Tragic Drowning in Kariega River, Kenton-On-Sea

Gerrit Cloete, NSRI Port Alfred station commander, said: At 13h49, Sunday, 2 November, NSRI Port Alfred and our NSRI Port Alfred satellite rescue station, Kenton-On-Sea, duty crews were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress in the Kariega River, at Kenton-On-Sea.

Our NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI JetRIB rescue craft Spirit of Kenton, NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, Gardmed ambulance services, Police divers (WPDS - Water Policing and Diving Services) and Hi-Tech Security officers responded.

On arrival on the scene our NSRI rescue craft, Spirit of Kenton, was launched and initiated surface water search efforts while NSRI rescue swimmers and Police divers initiated a free dive search operation, sweeping line free dive search efforts, for a local 21 year old male who had gone missing under water while swimming with friends in the Kariega River, near to the Kariega River slipway.

During extensive surface water and free dive search efforts the man was located under water and recovered onto the rescue craft by Police divers, assisted by our NSRI rescue swimmers, and brought to shore where sadly he was declared deceased by paramedics.

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

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

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