RICHARDS BAY:At 15h04, Thursday, 28th December, NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning accident where a 10 year old local boy had gone missing in the surf at Mtyani Camp, North of RBM (Richards Bay Minerals).NSRI Richards Bay dispatched a rescue vehicle with NSRI rescue swimmers and Police were notified. On arrival on scene a search revealed no sign of the missing child and it appears that the alarm was raised an hour after the incident occurred.A Police Search and Rescue Unit and a Police Dive Unit will continue with an ongoing search operation and Police have opened an investigation.
STRAND:At 17h54, Thursday, 28th December, NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Strand Beach.Strand Surf Lifesaving lifeguards had already entered the water to search for a 17 year old male, from Stellenbosch, who had disappeared under water while swimming in amongst other bathers.Bathers that were in the vicinity at the time and witnessed the teenager disappear and who raised the alarm had also started to search for the teenager.The NSRI sea rescue craft Spirit of Mercantile was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers, a Law Enforcement Marine unit with a jet-ski, GB Med Security ambulance services and WC Government Health EMS responded.A law enforcement officer located the body of the teenager from underwater and bystanders, NSRI rescue swimmers and Law Enforcement officers assisted to get the teenager to shore where paramedics conducted extensive CPR efforts; but sadly after all efforts to resuscitate the teenager were exhausted, he was declared deceased.Police have opened an inquest docket and the body of the teenager has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.Condolences are conveyed to family of the teenager.

Picture: Strand Beach | www.western-cape-info.com
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE