NSRI Launches Search for Missing Teen at Umdloti Beach

Etienne van Zyl, NSRI Durban station commander, said: At 15h47, Wednesday, 17 December, NSRI Durban, NSRI Ballito and NSRI Umhlanga duty crews were activated following a request for assistance from eThekwini lifeguards, on the KZN Surf Rescue Network, at Umdloti Main Beach, North of Durban, where lifeguards were searching for a 17 year old male teenager (believed to be a local) who had gone missing in the water after the lifeguards had rescued 2 bathers, both males, ages 18 and 19, from the water, after all 3 bathers had got into difficulties in the surf zone - offshore of the Umdloti tidal pool.

The NSRI Durban rescue craft The Victor Daitz was launched at Umhlanga and the NSRI Ballito rescue craft, Rescue 41 Alpha, was launched.

NSRI rescue swimmers, NSRI rescue vehicles, the SA Police Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue responded to join eThekwini lifeguards and Marshall Security officers on the scene.

Extensive sea and shoreline search efforts, including free dive search efforts by eThekwini lifeguards and an NSRI rescue swimmer, and shoreline patrols, revealed no sign of the missing teenager.

Police divers (WPDS - Water Policing and Diving Services), Police Search and Rescue and Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue, assisted by eThekwini lifeguards, are continuing in ongoing search efforts.

Thoughts and care are with family and friends of the missing teenager in this difficult time.