Search Underway for Missing Teenager in St Lucia

At 08h21 on Thursday, 1 January, NSRI St Lucia duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Jabula Beach, St Lucia.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park lifeguards and multiple eyewitnesses raised the alarm after three swimmers were swept out to sea by rip currents. Lifeguards entered the water with an NSRI pink rescue buoy in an effort to reach the three casualties.

The NSRI St Lucia rescue craft, JetRIB, was launched, while NSRI rescue swimmers, KwaZulu-Natal Government Health EMS, and the South African Police Service responded.

Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that three lifeguards in the surf zone had secured two of the casualties—an adult male and a young male, believed to be a teenager. In challenging sea conditions, the lifeguards were keeping the two casualties afloat with the aid of the NSRI pink rescue buoy, while continuing to search for a missing teenager (the third casualty).

In heavy breaking sea swells, the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB reached the group in the surf zone and was able to take the two casualties and all three lifeguards onboard. They were brought safely to the beach while the search continued for the missing 15-year-old male.

The two rescued casualties were medically assisted on the beach by NSRI medics before being taken into the care of EMS paramedics. Both were transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in stable conditions.

The NSRI rescue craft then relaunched to join the ongoing search efforts for the missing teenager.

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

Police Search and Rescue has been alerted and will continue the search, assisted by the NSRI and iSimangaliso Wetland Park authorities.

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