Jake Manten, NSRI Vaal Dam station commander, said:At 07h45 on Sunday, 7 February, NSRI Vaal Dam duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress in the Wilge River inlet to the Vaal Dam, at a farm close to Oranjeville, approximately 40 kilometers from our NSRI Vaal Dam rescue base.Our NSRI rescue craft Harvey’s Fibreglass was towed to the scene.On arrival on the scene we determined that a male aged in his thirties, believed to be from Malawi, reportedly launched on a rowing fishing canoe to take out fishing lines to the dam but according to reports the canoe capsized and he was last seen disappearing under water.Bystanders had attempted rescue efforts but the swollen flooded river and debris floating rapidly downstream hampered efforts.Our NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water to search but with the river in flood and with floating debris rapidly flowing downstream we were only able to conduct shoreline and surface water search efforts.A Police Dive Unit were activated.An extensive search has revealed no sign of the missing man and Police divers are tasked to continue in an ongoing search.
