Body of the missing child located and recovered:

MDUMBI, EASTERN CAPE - update: Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of a local 7 year old male child whose body was located and recovered on Tuesday night.

We believe that on Tuesday night local fishermen happened upon the body of a child in the vicinity of where the child went missing on Sunday.

Family of the child, Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, attended at the scene where the body of the child was located and recovered.

The body of the child was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

Family is supported by Police, Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and the local Community. Our thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and everyone involved.

Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased child.

The fishermen, who located the body and raised the alarm, have been commended.

NSRI/Nyandeni Municipal lifeguards, local community members, volunteers and Police are commended for the extensive efforts deployed in the search after the child went missing in the surf on Sunday.

See original media statement below....

Tragic Incident: A male child is missing, 3 children (females two age 13 and one age 8) were rescued:

Police K9 Search and Rescue, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), assisted by local Police, Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers (local surfers) and NSRI Mdumbi/Nyandeni Municipal lifeguards, are continuing in ongoing search efforts for a missing local 7 year old male child at Mdumbi Beach, Eastern Cape.

At 12h48, Sunday, 1 June, NSRI Mdumbi/Nyandeni Municipal lifeguards were alerted to reports of a drowning in progress at Mdumbi Beach. Lifeguards (off-duty at the time) responded.

4 children, locals, a male aged 7, and 3 females (two age 13 and one age 8), visiting the beach with family, appear to have been caught in rip currents while swimming during the outgoing tide.

Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers, who were surfing in the area at the time, noticed a group of children in distress in the surf zone and they rescued 3 females from the surf zone (using their surfboards) but indications alerted them to a 4th person still missing in the surf zone.

NSRI Mdumbi/Nyandeni Municipal lifeguards joined the Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers searching for the missing 7 year old male child.

Lifeguards conducted free dive search efforts while sea and shoreline search efforts continued.

The SA Police Services and Police K9 Search and Rescue were activated and Police attended at the scene.

Despite the extensive sea and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing 7 year old male child.

A female, age 13, was medically treated on the beach for non-fatal drowning symptoms and in a serious but stable condition she was taken to hospital by a family member - she is expected to make a full recovery.

The remaining 2 girls were not injured.

Police, assisted by Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers and Mdumbi NSRI/Nyandeni lifeguards, are continuing in ongoing search efforts.

Thoughts, care and compassion, are with the family and friends of the missing child in this difficult time.