Man Tragically Drowns in Palmiet Lagoon, Kleinmond

Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, said: At 13h23, Saturday, 29 November, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following reports from a lady at the Palmiet Rest Camp reporting her friend, a male, age 51, from Wellington, had gone missing in the Palmiet Lagoon while swimming with friends.

The 2 friends had lost sight of the missing man while swimming towards the shoreline.

NSRI Kleinmond rescue swimmers, Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, WSAR (Wilderness Search and Rescue), ER24 ambulance services, Overstrand Traffic Services, BEST community medics and Overstrand Law Enforcement, responded, and an NSRI jetRIB rescue craft was launched.

Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.

A Metro EMS drone rescue unit was activated by Metro EMS Control.

An extensive search commenced including surface water and shoreline patrols, deploying multiple NSRI rescue swimmers and an Metro EMS rescue diver into the water conducting free dive sweeping line search efforts and deploying a weighted device into the water to determine drift patterns.

During the extensive search efforts the man was located under water in the Palmiet Lagoon and recovered, in cooperation with Police.

Sadly the man was declared deceased by paramedics.

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

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