French U/18 Rugby Player Missing at Diaz Beach

All thoughts, care and compassion are with the family, friends and the French u/18 schools rugby squad following an incident on Wednesday where a 17 year old French Schools rugby team member went missing at Diaz Beach, Cape Point, Cape Town, South Africa. We believe members of the rugby squad may have been swimming at Diaz Beach when strong rip currents swept the teenager into the surf zone.

At 15h16, Wednesday, 7 August, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) were contacted by TMNP (Table Mountain National Parks) rangers reporting that they suspected there to be a person in difficulty in the water at Diaz Beach, Cape Point.

From a vantage point above the cliffs, the TMNP rangers reported that it appeared that two people were in the surf zone in rip currents when it then appeared (to the TMNP rangers) that one person had come ashore but the second person may have disappeared in the water.

While raising the alarm TMNP rangers were responding to the scene, below the cliffs of Cape point main parking area, to investigate.

The CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network, NSRI Simonstown and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews were activated.

CMR (Cape Medical Response) dispatched an ambulance, a rescue vehicle and a paramedic response vehicle.

2 NSRI rescue craft from NSRI Simonstown station 10 rescue base were launched and 2 NSRI rescue craft from NSRI Hout Bay station 8 rescue base were launched.

The SA Police Services, an NSRI Simonstown rescue vehicle and an NSRI hout Bay rescue vehicle responded.

The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, accompanied by a Metro rescue diver, responded.

On arrival on the scene air, sea and shoreline rescue resources joined TMNP rangers in an ongoing search for a 17 year old French male teenager who had reportedly disappeared in the surf zone after it appears that he may have been caught in rip currents.

A teenage male friend that is reported to have attempted to rescue his team mate from the surf zone had managed to reach the shore and he was not injured.

The Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.

4 NSRI rescue craft, the Skymed rescue helicopter and shoreline rescue crews, conducted extensive search efforts for the teenager.

Conditions on the scene were 3 to 4 meter swells and a 15 knot Northerly wind.

The group are part of the French u/18 schools rugby team that were on a visit to Cape Point.

Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing teenager.

Police WPDS attended at the scene and Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.

An EMS Metro rescue squad are on alert to assist Police in the ongoing search.

Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family, friends and the rugby team of the missing teenager in this difficult time.

French authorities and authorities of the City of Cape Town tourism are assisting with counselling and logistics.