Child missing in Strand

Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Strand station commander, said:At 14h36, Saturday, 24th August, NSRI Strand duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a drowning in progress at Strand Beach.The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski and Mercantile Spirit were launched and our sea rescue vehicle and NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS and the EMS rescue squad, the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and their Fire rescue dive unit, CoCT Law Enforcement and Law Enforcement Marine Unit, GB Med Security ambulance Services, ER24 ambulance services and members of the local Neighbourhood Watch responded.On arrival on the scene an air, sea and shoreline search for a missing child, believed to be aged 12, commenced.The child, reported to be amongst a group of local friends who were swimming together, was reported by eye-witnesses to have disappeared under water after appearing to be in difficulty in the surf while swimming.Despite an extensive search sadly no sign of the child has been found and a Police Dive Unit are continuing in an ongoing search supported by NSRI Strand, Strand Surf Lifesaving, CoCT Law Enforcement Marine and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services dive unit.Trauma Counsellors assisted family of the missing child and our thoughts are with the family in this difficult time.