Jonathan Tufts, NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander, said: At 14h01, Sunday, 1 December, NSRI Gqeberha duty crew were activated following reports of a man missing in the Sundays River, at the Pearson Park slipway, Colchester.
An NSRI rescue vehicle, with NSRI rescue swimmers onboard, and towing the NSRI rescue craft JetRib, SANParks (SA National Parks) rangers, Coastal Water Rescue rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, and Police K9 Search and Rescue responded.
An off-duty EC Government Health EMS rescue paramedic attended at the scene.
On arrival on the scene, it was determined that a 17 year old female was in difficulty in the water while swimming when a 20 year old male went to her assistance.
We believe that he was able to help the girl out of the water, but he then disappeared under water and he has not been seen since.
The girl was medically checked by the EMS paramedic, and she required no further assistance.
NSRI rescue swimmers, Coastal Water Rescue rescue swimmers and Police divers, free dive searched for the missing man.
The NSRI JetRib rescue craft was launched to conduct surface water search efforts and to attend on the scene as a safety platform for the rescue swimmers and the Police divers searching in the water.
Despite an extensive search there remains no signs of the missing man.
Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.
Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.
NSRI – East London – Monday, 2 December. Fatal drowning of a local child:
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