Fatal drowning at Strand Beach

At 16h38, Sunday, 24th December, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority following reports of a young man disappeared in surf at Bens on the Beach, Strand Beach.Strand Surf Lifesaving lifeguards had already initiated a search for the 17 year old local man who disappeared under water from unknown causes shortly after entering the water to swim.NSRI Gordons Bay dispatched our sea rescue vehicle with NSRI rescue swimmers and our sea rescue craft Spirit of Mercantile was launched.WC Government Health EMS, ER24 ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and their rescue dive unit, SA Police Services, a Police Dive Unit, Law Enforcement Marine Unit and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.During an air, sea and shoreline search, including the Skymed rescue helicopter, the NSRI sea rescue craft, a Law Enforcement Marine Unit jet-ski and rescue swimmers and lifeguards conducting sweeping line free dive search efforts in the water, the body of the teenager was located and recovered from the water and brought to the shoreline where paramedics conducted extensive CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts but sadly, after all efforts to resuscitate the teenager were exhausted, he has been declared deceased by paramedics.Trauma counsellors are assisting the family and condolences are conveyed by all emergency services involved.The body of the teenager has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.Police have opened an inquest docket.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE