Father and daughter rescued, and diver suspected missing

On 4 January, NSRI Kleinmond and emergency teams conducted extensive air, sea, and shoreline searches after reports of a diver in distress near Kleinmond tidal pool; no diver was found, and no missing person reports were received. A separate report of a missing diver at Hangklip was resolved when he returned home safely. Earlier, on 1 January, NSRI Kleinmond rescued a father and daughter swept off their canoe at Jocks Bay, successfully bringing them ashore without injuries.

Police are monitoring, following eyewitness reports of a male diver suspected to have gone missing in the sea, in the vicinity of Kleinmond tidal pool, on Saturday, 4 January.

NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated at 17h22, Saturday, 4 January, following eyewitness reports of a diver appearing to be in difficulties along the rocks on the shoreline at Kleinmond tidal pool on the Bruggie.

NSRI Kleinmond rescue swimmers, Overstrand Law Enforcement, WC Government Health EMS and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.

Further eyewitness reports were received reporting the diver appearing to be in difficulties while emergency resources were responding to the scene.

Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search no signs of the diver were found.

There remain no reports of any person missing or overdue that may be related to this case.

Anyone with information that can assist Police with information related to this case can call Kleinmond Police Station - Phone: 028-2718200, 028-2718202.

During this incident a second call was then received from the wife of a man who had gone diving in the vicinity of Maasbaai, Hangklip, and who had not returned home as scheduled.

While investigating this second call at Hangklip the wife alerted NSRI reporting that he husband had returned home safely and no assistance was required.

Earlier, on Wednesday, 1 January, at 14h17, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated to reports of a father and daughter in difficulties on a canoe offshore at Jocks Bay, Bettys Bay.

It appears that the father and daughter were in the water after it appears that they had been washed off their canoe while they were fishing.

An eyewitness, a young man who has indicated his intentions to join NSRI Kleinmond, had visuals of the 2 casualties and he remained in communications with our responding rescue resources.

While responding to the scene we requested that the local Good Samaritan man indicate, shout towards, the 2 casualties to swim away from the rocky shoreline to avoid them being battered against the rocky shoreline.

An NSRI Kleinmond rescue craft was launched into sea conditions with 2 meter swells and with strong gusting winds and we reached the casualties offshore and they were rescued onto our rescue craft.

They were brought to the beach at Jocks Bay where they were medically assessed and with both of them showing no signs of any injuries they required no further assistance.