At 18h20 on Thursday, 1 January, the KZN surf rescue network was alerted to what was initially reported as at least three people in distress in the surf zone at Pennington Beach, near the tidal pool on the KZN South Coast.
NSRI Rocky Bay rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue and IPSS medical rescue responded to join Alert lifeguards who had launched into the surf in efforts to rescue several people appearing to be in distress caught in rip currents.
While responding to the scene reports indicated that at least five people were in distress and Alert lifeguards had launched a surf rescue operation.
Alert lifeguards reportedly rescued three people from the water.
One male (21), was sadly declared deceased by paramedics. The remaining two casualties, believed to be a young adult male and an 18-year-old female, were not injured.
The body of the deceased was taken into the care of the Police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
At least three males reportedly remained missing.
During the night, at around 21h30, the police recovered a male (21) in the vicinity, sadly deceased.
The body of the deceased was taken into the care of the Police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the deceased.
Police have opened Inquest dockets for the two deceased cases.
Police Search and Rescue, assisted by NSRI and lifeguards, are continuing in search operations for 2 remaining missing males, both believed to be aged 21.
Thoughts and care are with the families of the two missing young men.
Some information may change as more details are determined.
UPDATE PENNINGTON BEACH:
At first light on Friday, 2 January, NSRI Rocky Bay, Police Search and Rescue, the SA Police Services and Umdoni lifeguards resumed extensive search efforts for what was believed to be two males that remained missing following the mass drowning incident in the early evening on New Year's Day. The ongoing search efforts are extending along the coastline and out to sea.
During ongoing search efforts on Friday, it was determined that three males, all believed to be 21, remain missing.
Then, during ongoing search efforts on Friday, 2 January, an 18-year-old female was located, sadly deceased, on Bazley Beach. It was determined by the police that the deceased female had gone missing at Pennington Beach during a drowning accident on New Year's Day in the early evening.
This brings the total related to this incident:
1 male, age 21, located sadly deceased during the initial search operation during the evening on the 1st of January.
1 female, age 18, rescued on the evening of 1st January, not injured.
1 male, age 21, located sadly deceased by Police on the beach nearby to Pennington at 21h30 on the evening on the 1st of January.
1 female, age 18, located sadly deceased on the beach at Bazley Beach on Friday morning during ongoing search efforts.
3 males, all believed to be age 21, remain missing.
We believe all involved are from KZN.
Search operations are ongoing for the 3 missing males.
Thoughts and care are with all involved in this difficult time.
