Thoughts, care and compassion are with the families of 2 local males, age 20 and age 17, who went missing on Saturday early evening at Victoria Bay, George, reportedly while swimming. A search that commenced on Saturday early evening is ongoing.
UPDATE 2: VICTORIA BAY - 11 September 2024
Care and compassion are with the families and friends, in relation to the incident at Victoria Bay, near to George, on Saturday, 31 August, where a local 20 year old male and 17 year old male went missing while swimming.
We can confirm that on Saturday, 7 September, SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) recovered a body, assisted by NSRI Wilderness, 1.5 kilometers off-shore of Wilderness Beach, that was believed to be that of the 20 year old male, although formal identification was still to be made.
A group of paddlers, paddling from Victoria Bay to Sedgefield, had come across a body floating in the sea and the alarm was raised at 09h16.
The SA Police Services, Police investigating officers and Police WPDS, WC Government Health EMS and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services responded to join NSRI Wilderness duty crew at the NSRI Wilderness station 23 rescue base.
The NSRI rescue craft Ann Stratford was launched.
The body was located and recovered onto the NSRI rescue craft and brought to the NSRI rescue base where the body was taken into the care of Forensic Pathology Services.
NSRI has learned that positive identification has been performed, confirming the body to be that of the 20 year old male.
The group of paddlers are commended for their assistance.
Condolences are conveyed to the families of the 20 year old and the 17 year old.
See media statements related to the incident below ...
UPDATE 1: VICTORIA BAY - 11 September 2024
Care and compassion are with the families and friends, in relation to the incident at Victoria Bay, near to George, on Saturday, 31 August, where a local 20 year old male and 17 year old male went missing while swimming.
We can confirm that on Tuesday, 3 September, SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) recovered a body, assisted by NSRI Wilderness, at Victoria Bay, believed to be that of the 17 year old.
The body of the teenager was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
SAPS WPDS are continuing in an ongoing search operation.
Thoughts and care are with the family and friends in this difficult time.
See original media statement below ...
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:
At 17h55, Saturday, 31 August, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated by the SA Police Services following reports of 2 swimmers in distress caught in rip currents at Victoria Bay.
NSRI Wilderness rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene while NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Wilderness station 23 rescue base and launched the NSRI rescue craft Ann Stratford.
George Fire and Rescue services and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and the SA Police Services responded.
Multiple calls were by that stage being received by eyewitnesses reporting the drowning in progress.
On arrival on the scene we found eyewitnesses indicating where 2 swimmers had disappeared in the surf zone after being swept out to sea by rip currents.
An extensive sea and shoreline search revealed no sign of the missing two.
Search efforts included NSRI rescue swimmers conducting free dive search efforts in the surf zone.
It was confirmed that a group of 6 young men had come to swim at Victoria Bay and while swimming the teenager and the young man were caught in rip currents.
On Sunday, 1 September, the ongoing search efforts included NSRI Wilderness rescue craft, NSRI rescue swimmers, deployed to free dive search, George Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, assisting Police (WPDS) Water Policing and Diving Services in the ongoing search.
A George Fire and Rescue Services drone is being used in the search.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man and of the missing teenager in this difficult time.
Police divers (WPDS) are continuing in an ongoing search.
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