At 16h09, Friday, 10 March, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress in front of Views Hotel, Wilderness.
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:
NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS and EMS Rescue, George Fire and Rescue Services and Frontier Medix ambulance services responded.
NSRI duty crew responded to the NSRI Wilderness rescue station where the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Rotary and Ann Stratford Rescuer were launched.
A female University student, believed to be age 22, was located by NSRI rescue swimmers past the backline of the waves. She was unresponsive. The rescue swimmers initiated chest compressions while swimming towards the shore. An NSRI rescue craft recovered her in the mid-surf break and recovered her onto the NSRI rescue craft.
With rescue chest compressions continuing to be assisted by the NSRI crew, she was rescued to the beach where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced by NSRI medics, paramedics and an off-duty doctor. Meanwhile, the search continued for a male University student, believed to be age 18, who remained missing in the surf.
The female patient was transported to the hospital by Frontier Medix ambulance in critical condition where doctors and nurses fought through the night to save her life. NSRI has learned that she sadly passed away during the night after all efforts to save her were exhausted.
On Friday an extensive sea and shoreline search revealed no sign of the missing teenager.
On Saturday the Police Dive Unit are continuing in an ongoing search for the missing teenager.
NSRI Wilderness and George Fire and Rescue Services are assisting Police divers in the ongoing search.
Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the female. Police have opened an Inquest docket.
Family and friends of the missing teenager are in our care and thoughts remain with them in this difficult time. Police have opened an investigation.
We believe that while a group of University students were swimming rip currents may have developed in the surf. The students exited the water but the female was caught in rip currents. The missing teenager had reportedly attempted to rescue her.
Police are investigating and Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.
The missing teenager is from Ngqamakhwe, Eastern Cape. The deceased female is believed to be from Gauteng.
Update Wilderness search and incidents at Wilderness, Sedgefield, Bantry Bay and Durban
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