Fatal drowning - Breede River, Overberg

At 19h00, Saturday, 3 September, WC Government Health EMS, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services and the SA Police Services responded to the Breede River, on the N2 National Road, near to Swellendam, where a young local man had gone missing in the river after falling from a cliff.

Local families were spending the day at the river where it appears the young man may have attempted to jump from a height into the water when according to reports he fell into the water before disappearing beneath the water surface.

Overberg Traffic Services assisted on the scene with traffic management and additional lighting on the N2 Breede River bridge, the staging area for the search and rescue operation.

NSRI Agulhas swift water rescue swimmers responded and on arrival on the scene free dive sweeping line search efforts were conducted in a deep section of the river that was not fast flowing, in the vicinity where it had been indicated that the male had last been seen in the water.

After no sign of the male could be found a Police Dive Unit was alerted and on Sunday morning Police divers scuba dived at the scene.

Police divers located and recovered the body.

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

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family.