NSRI – Port Alfred – Monday, 7 July. Update on the missing Rhodes student:
On Saturday morning, at approximately 01h00, a body was discovered in the Kowie River, Port Alfred.
The body of a male was located and recovered by the SA Police Services. NSRI Port Alfred attended at the scene.
The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
While it is believed the body recovered to be that of missing 22 year old Fulufhelo "Lekay" Munzhelele from Musina, Limpopo, a Rhodes University student, who went missing in the early hours in the morning of Friday 27 June at East Beach, Port Alfred, formal identification is in progress and at this stage the identification is yet to be confirmed.
Formal identification of the body, in cooperation with Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, are in progress.
Police have opened an Inquest docket.
Condolences, thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and friends in this difficult time.
See the original media statement below...
At 01h42, Friday, 27 June, NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a person missing at East Beach.
It appears that three friends, two males and a female, Rhodes University students, had gone swimming at East Beach when all three may have been caught in rip currents.
One man and the female were reportedly able to swim to safety, they were not injured, and one male, age 22, from Limpopo and now living in Mkhanda, went missing reportedly in the surf zone.
NSRI Port Alfred rescue swimmers, an NSRI rescue vehicle, the SA Police Services and Multi Security responded.
The NSRI rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched.
An extensive search operation for the missing man commenced.
Despite the extensive sea and shoreline search no signs of the missing man were found.
During Friday the NSRI Port Alfred rescue craft, an NSRI rescue vehicle and NSRI rescue swimmers assisted the SA Police Services, Police K9 Search and Rescue and SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) in ongoing search efforts that are being led by Police.
The man remains missing.
Police have opened an investigation.
The 2 survivors have requested privacy at this time.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.
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