Cape Vidal – Sunday, 4 October. A teenager rescued and sadly one teenager remains missing.

At 15h07, Saturday, 3 October, NSRI St Lucia duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Cape Vidal Beach.

Eyewitness reports indicated that 2 teenagers were in distress in the surf zone and appeared to be caught in a rip current.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene, and our NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our JetRIB rescue craft, Rescue 40 Bravo, responded.

The SA Police Service was alerted, and SISILA EMS ambulance services responded.

On arrival, we found that a female Good Samaritan from Benoni had rescued a 14-year-old male and brought him safely to the beach after launching into the water to aid the 2 teenagers caught in rip currents. She has been commended for rescuing the 14-year-old.

Our NSRI rescue craft was launched from the beach and conducted extensive search efforts in and beyond the surf zone for a 16-year-old male who had gone missing in the surf zone.

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

NSRI medics attended to the 14-year-old on the beach. He was treated on the scene for non-fatal drowning symptoms and handed into the care of SISILA EMS paramedics and transported to hospital by a SISILA EMS ambulance in a stable condition. He is expected to make a full recovery.

The rescued teenager and the missing teenager, locals, from Mtubatuba, friends visiting the beach with family, had been swimming together when it appears they were caught in rip currents.

Police have opened an investigation.

Police Search and Rescue - WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Service), assisted by iSimangaliso Wetland Park rangers, are continuing in ongoing search efforts for the missing teenager.

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