Cape Town - Two soccer players who were swept out to sea in rip currents at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton, remain missing, while the body of a fisherman was recovered in Bloubergstrand yesterday.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said the 19-year-old and 20-year-old men were playing on the beach before entering the water yesterday afternoon.
“NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven and Milnerton lifeguards, and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services launched five rescue craft to assist in a search operation with the emergency services and police.
“An extensive search was conducted for the 19-year-old and a 20-year-old – both males – who went missing at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton.
“It appears that they were part of a local soccer team playing soccer at the beach when they reportedly went into the surf before before being swept out to sea in rip currents.
“Despite the extensive search there remains no sign of the two missing young men.
“Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the missing young men in this difficult time,” the NSRI said.
Meanwhile, the body of the angler believed to have gone missing after being swept off the rocks while fishing at Small Bay, Bloubergstrand, was recovered by police divers yesterday, from rocks on the shoreline during low tide.
The NSRI said the body was believed to be that of the adult man who went missing on Saturday.
“Formal identification will need to be made in co-operation with police and forensic pathology services.
“The body has been taken into the care of police and government health forensic pathology services,” the NSRI said.
NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Terence Lawson said that duty crew and the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network were activated following eyewitness reports of the fisherman in distress.
“The local coast watch community immediately initiated a visual search along that stretch of coast.
“NSRI rescue swimmers, the Western Cape Government Health EMS and rescue squad, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SAPS, Community Medics, ER24 ambulance services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, Cape Town Law Enforcement, and Table View Neighbourhood Watch responded.
“The NSRI rescue craft Rescue 18 Alpha was launched,” Lawson said.
“On arrival at the scene, a search commenced for an adult male fisherman who was swept off the rocks by a wave while shoreline angling. He was last seen by a family member in the surf line.
“SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services were alerted and a Metro EMS rescue drone unit joined in the search.
“The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, returning to base from the West Coast, and SAPS WPDS joined in the search,” Lawson said.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said that Table View police registered an inquest for investigation.
“According to reports, the body of the victim was found by members of the public.
“A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
“Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111,” Twigg said.
Cape Argus