Sara Smith, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said:
NSRI can confirm that sadly on the afternoon of Saturday, 27th January, the body of a 12 year old boy, missing in the surf since Friday, was located on the beach at Main Beach, and recovered by the SA Police Services and the body has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
Condolences are conveyed to the family.
An inquest docket has been opened by Police.
See original media statement below…
ST FRANCIS BAY Media statement of 27th January, 2018:
Sara Smith, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said:
At 16h54, Friday, 26th January, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew responded to Main Beach following reports of a drowning in progress.
The sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched and NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.
Private Care ambulance services and the SA Police services were activated.
On arrival on the scene an extensive search commenced for a 12 year old boy, believed to be a local, reported by eye-witnesses to have last been seen floating face down in the water after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip currents approximately 20 minutes prior to NSRI arriving on the scene.
A shoreline search by NSRI crew and 7 NSRI crew and NSRI rescue swimmers deployed into the surf conducting a sweeping line free dive search in the surfline and a search conducted from the sea rescue craft in the breakers but despite the extensive search no sign of the boy has been found.
Police have opened an investigation and a Police Dive Unit and K-9 Search and Rescue are continuing in an ongoing search operation.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
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