Tragic Loss: Search for Missing Teen Ends at Strand Beach

At 14h30, Wednesday, 8 January, CoCT (City of Cape Town) Strand lifeguards initiated a search for a teenager reported missing at the beach in Strand - between Topaz apartments and the Strand Pump Station.

As a precaution NSRI Gordons Bay and the CoCT water rescue network was activated.

NSRI Gordons Bay rescue swimmers responded while an NSRI JetRib rescue craft was launched from the NSRI Gordons Bay satellite station at Strand Beach.

WC Government Health EMS, a Metro rescue drone unit, the SA Police Services, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), CoCT Law Enforcement, GB Med ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, ER24 ambulance services and Immediate Medical responded.

A search continued along the beach while NSRI rescue swimmers and CoCT Strand lifeguards entered the water to conduct sweeping line free dive search efforts and wading through shallow surf in sweeping line search efforts.

During an extensive search rescue teams were alerted by a public member who had come across a person unresponsive in shallow water along the beach front.

The teenager, age 17, from Khayelitsha, was recovered from the water where paramedics sadly declared the teenager deceased.

The body of the teenager has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased teenager.