Man Missing After Being Caught in Rip Currents at Ballito Beach

At 06h20 on Friday, 2 January, NSRI Ballito duty crew and the KwaZulu-Natal surf rescue network were activated following reports from IPSS Search and Rescue of a search operation in progress at Thompsons Beach, Ballito. A 40-year-old male, reportedly from Carolina, Mpumalanga, had gone missing in the surf zone.

It appears that the man and his 13-year-old nephew were swimming earlier in the morning when they were caught in rip currents. An unidentified Good Samaritan rescued the teenager from the water. The teenager was not injured; however, the uncle went missing.

The Good Samaritan re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the man, who then disappeared underwater.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene, and the NSRI Ballito rescue craft JetRIB was launched from Salmon Bay and joined IPSS Search and Rescue in extensive search efforts for the missing man.

The South African Police Service and KDM lifeguards joined the search operation. KDM lifeguards launched a jet ski and Malibu rescue boards, while additional lifeguards joined NSRI rescue swimmers conducting free-dive sweeping line search efforts.

Despite extensive sea and shoreline search efforts, there remain no signs of the missing man.

Police Search and Rescue, assisted by IPSS Search and Rescue and KDM lifeguards, are continuing ongoing search efforts.

Thoughts and care are with the family and friends of the missing man during this difficult time.