Cape Town - The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is still searching for two young males who went missing in the surf zone at Victoria Bay in George.
The 17-year-old and the 20-year-old have been missing since Saturday, August 31, after being caught in strong rip currents in the surf, the emergency rescue organisation said.
NSRI Wilderness station commander Mike Vonk said the SAPS had activated the NSRI’s Wilderness duty crew after reports of two swimmers in distress at Victoria Bay.
“Immediately upon hearing this our rescue swimmers responded, heading directly to the scene while the NSRI crew responded to our NSRI Wilderness station 23 rescue base and launched the NSRI rescue craft Ann Stratford,” he said.
“Multiple calls were, by that stage, being received by witnesses reporting the drowning in progress.”
Vonk said George’s Fire and Rescue services, the Western Cape Government’s Health EMS rescue squad and the SAPS also responded to the call.
“On arrival on the scene, we found witnesses indicating where two swimmers had disappeared in the surf zone after being swept out to sea by rip currents. An extensive sea and shoreline search revealed no sign of the missing young men.
“Search efforts included NSRI rescue swimmers conducting free dive search efforts in the surf zone.”
According to the NSRI, information relayed to its teams indicated that the two missing people were known in the area and had gone swimming as part of a group of six before they were caught in rip currents.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that on Sunday, September 1, the search efforts involved the NSRI Wilderness rescue craft. NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed to free dive search.
The George Fire and Rescue Services, the SAPS and the WC Government’s Health EMS rescue squad assisted Police Water Policing and Diving Services.
Lambinon said a George Fire and Rescue Services’ drone was also being used in the search.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man and the missing teenager in this difficult time,” he added.
Cape Argus