Rowan Marais, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, said: At 13h20, Sunday, 24 August, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a male appearing to be in difficulty in the surf zone at Bloubergstrand Beach, Table View, next to Dolphin Beach Hotel (in front of KFC).
The CoCT (City of Cape Town) Water Rescue Network was activated.
NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene while our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Melkbosstrand station 18 rescue base where the NSRI rescue craft Rotary's Gift and Rescue 18 Alpha were launched.
Additional eyewitness reports were being received by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) indicating that the male person was in the water in distress.
WC Government Health EMS, BBSLC (Big Bay Surf Lifesaving), the SA Police Services, Community Medics, ER24 ambulance services, CoCT Law Enforcement and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, responded.
SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.
A BBSLC RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) was joined on the scene, searching in the surf zone and beyond, by our 2 NSRI rescue craft.
The 3 rescue craft conducted extensive sweeping line search efforts in and beyond the surf zone.
An EMS Aerial Drone Rescue Unit was activated and conducted aerial drone search operations.
Rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf zone conducting sweeping line free dive search efforts.
Despite the extensive sea, air and shoreline search, there remains no signs of the missing male.
The missing person, believed to be a black a male, remains unidentified and is believed to have been wearing shorts and a pink cap when entering the water and getting into difficulty before disappearing in the surf zone.
The missing person remains unidentified.
We are appealing to anyone with information that can assist in this case to call Table View Police Station 021-5213338 or Police 10111 or NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) 0870949774.
Police divers (WPDS) attended at the scene and are tasked to continue in ongoing search efforts.
The eyewitnesses are commended for swiftly raising the alarm.
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