Searches continue for a Johannesburg man who went missing at sea in the Eastern Cape over the weekend.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said eyewitnesses reported a drowning in progress at Coffee Bay main beach in front of the Ocean View Hotel to the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Saturday, June 13, at 11.25am.
NSRI Mdumbi lifeguards responded directly to the scene while NSRI Mdumbi crew launched the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB. The South African Police Services (SAPS) were alerted and responded.
“On arrival on the scene, it was confirmed that a 21-year-old Johannesburg man, a student at a local university, visiting Coffee Bay from Mthatha for the day with friends, had gone missing in the surf zone while swimming. Friends of the young man, and eyewitnesses, indicated where the man had last been seen in the surf zone,” NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon said.
An extensive sea and shoreline search revealed no signs of the missing man.
Police K9 Search and Rescue were alerted, and police divers attended the scene, assisting in the search. On Sunday, NSRI lifeguards assisted the police in ongoing search efforts.
Police K9 Search and Rescue is continuing in ongoing search efforts, assisted by the local NSRI lifeguards.
The man remains missing. Police have opened an investigation.
IOL
Robin-Lee Francke
iol.co.za