Fatal drowning: Knysna

At 12h01, Wednesday, 20 April, NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated following a call from an eye-witness, a fisherman who was fishing on the train bridge, reporting a drowning in progress in the Knysna Lagoon

Grant van Staden, NSRI Knysna deputy station commander, said:

Our NSRI Knysna duty crew responded to our sea rescue base where the sea rescue craft Jaytee IV and Katharine were launched.

NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services, SA National Parks rangers and the SA Police Services responded directly to the scene.

On arrival on the scene a search commenced for an adult male who was missing in the water.

The missing man's friend reported that they had waded into the water when his friend disappeared under water.

The search included a surface water search from the sea rescue craft and NSRI rescue swimmers conducting extended line free dive search efforts.

The Police Dive Unit were activated.

Police divers conducted a scuba dive search and during their search the body of the man was located and recovered from under water.

The man was sadly declared deceased.

The body of the man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man.