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.
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.
SAFETY ALERT and incidents at Hermanus, Durban and Cape Town:
Read More
SAFETY ALERT: NSRI and the emergency services are appealing to the public to take caution around the coastline as storm seas, coupled with the new moon Spring tide that peaks on Tuesday, the 3rd September, will contribute to dangerous sea ...
SAFET ALERT: NSRI are appealing to the public to be cautious around the coastline where storms around the coast, along the Northern and Western Cape coastline and spreading up the East Coast, coupled with the approaching new moon Spring tide ...
Spencer Oldham, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said: At 11h43, Sunday, 18 August, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Hout Bay Beach. ...