Searches for Missing Swimmer Caught in Rip Current - St. Lucia

Jan Hoffman, NSRI St Lucia station commander, said: At 16h43, Sunday, 30 March, NSRI St Lucia duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Jabula Beach, St Lucia.

Eyewitness reports indicated that a man was caught in rip currents and 2 friends were in the water attempting (swimming towards the man) to rescue him.

Our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI St Lucia station 40 rescue base where our NSRI rescue vehicle was dispatched towing our NSRI rescue craft JetRIB Sea Ranger to the scene while NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene.

While responding to the scene eyewitnesses reported that the 2 men who had tried to rescue the man had retreated to the beach.

On arrival on the scene the NSRI rescue craft was launched while lookouts were posted at high vantage points - including NSRI crew, Alpha Security members and members of the local Rate Payers Association.

Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search during the peak of the Spring high tide no signs of the missing man were located.

It appears that a group of 6 men, from Gauteng, on a working trip to St Lucia, had gone swimming at Jabula Beach. One of the men, age 22, was caught in rip currents and swept out to sea before disappearing.

The SA Police Services are alerted and Police Search and Rescue (WPDS - Water Policing and Diving Services) are tasked to continue in ongoing search efforts.

Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the missing man in this difficult time.