SEA RESCUE – Gqeberha – Man missing

NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Brighton Beach.

Sheryll Grobler, NSRI Gqeberha duty controller, said:
Our sea rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched, our NSRI rescue vehicle, Blue Water Bay lifeguards, The Beach Office, SA Police Services, Coastal Water Rescue and EC Government Health EMS responded.

On our sea rescue vehicle arriving on the scene we joined the Blue Water Bay lifeguards in a search for a Johannesburg man, aged in his early 20's, who had gone missing in the surf while swimming.

2 Blue Water Bay lifeguards and an NSRI rescue swimmer entered the water and conducted sweeping line free dive search efforts from the shoreline through the surfline to the backline.

A Bluewater Bay lifeguard jet-ski arrived on the scene and was joined in a search by our NSRI rescue craft and by 2 Beach Office rescue jet-ski's.

A friend of the missing man had reportedly earlier tried to rescue him but was unable before the man disappeared under water.

Despite the extensive sea and shoreline search there remains no sign of the missing man.

Police Search and Rescue are continuing in an ongoing search.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.