Hout Bay man still reportedly missing, despite extensive search

NSRI Station 8 Hout Bay and Station 26 Kommetjie responded to a call for a missing Hout Bay Man on Sunday. The male, in his early 20's, is reportedly still missing despite an extensive search effort.

Geoff Stevens, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:

Despite an extensive search on Sunday, 2 August, for a Hout Bay man, believed to be aged in his early 20's, no sign of the man has been found at Duiker Island, Hout Bay, where it is believed he had been scuba diving earlier in the day.

At 13h23, NSRI Hout Bay and NSRI Kommetjie duty crews were activated and 3 NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft, Nadine Gordimer, Albie Matthews and Tintswalo Phoenix and the NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft Spirit of the Vines conducted an extensive search in the area.

The SA Police Services and a Police Dive Unit were activated and Police are investigating.

In a separate incident earlier on Sunday, 2 August, NSRI Hout Bay crew, on the sea rescue craft Albie Matthews, came across 10 paddlers, males and females, on canoes, who appeared to be in difficulty in the Bay.

They had paddled from Hout Bay harbour to Hout Bay beach and while returning they were caught in a North Westerly wind and they were making no headway against the wind to get back to Hout Bay harbour.

They accepted NSRI's offer to assist them.

The sea rescue craft Nadine Gordimer joined our sea rescue craft Albie Matthews on the scene and 6 of the paddlers and their canoes were brought to Hout Bay harbour aboard our sea rescue craft without incident.

The remaining 4 canoeists paddled to Hout Bay harbour without requiring any assistance.

In a separate incident, on Thursday, 30 July, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew responded to Fish on the Rocks, Hout Bay, where a local man was believed to be missing while free diving from a SUP (stand-up paddle board).

Shortly after our NSRI crew arrived on the scene the man was found safe and he had not been in any difficulty and he required no assistance.

-ENDS-

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is the charity organisation that saves lives on South African waters – both coastal and inland. Our goal is to prevent drowning through rescue operations, education and prevention initiatives.

Operating from base stations along the SA coastline, and on inland dams, our rescue volunteers are on call, at all hours, every day of the year. Our rescue crew receives no payment and neither do we charge the people we rescue.

We visit schools around the country, teaching children about water safety. Our drowning prevention measures include our online training academy, with free courses for crew and the public, emergency signage, Pink Rescue Buoys for emergency flotation, rescue swimmers, lifeguards, and active patrols during peak seasons.

Our organisation is totally reliant on donations and sponsorships. This enables us to do the work of saving lives, changing lives, and creating futures.

You can do your bit to assist. Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.

SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY: 112 or 087 094 9774

Released by:

Craig Lambinon

SEA RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS

Email: communications@searescue.org.za | Cell: +27 (0) 82 380 3800 | www.searescue.org.za