Cape Town – The search continues for a 17 year old who went missing after going for a swim at Wolfgat Nature Reserve near Monwabisi beach.
NSRI Strandfontein station commander, Nicolette Whitehead, said the teen, believed to be from Nyanga, went missing under the water at about 5.40pm on Saturday.
Whitehead said police divers continued the search on Sunday, and they were assisted by the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Marine Unit, lifeguards and NSRI Strandfontein.
“At 5.40pm, Saturday, December 10, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) water rescue network were alerted by CoCT lifeguards who had initiated a search for a male, believed to be aged 17, from Nyanga, when family of the teenager reported that the teenager had not returned out of the water from a swim at Wolfgat Nature Reserve near to Monwabisi.
“CoCT Law Enforcement Marine Unit, SA Police Services and NSRI Strandfontein joined CoCT lifeguards who were on the scene conducting extensive search efforts for the teenager.
“Despite an extensive search there remained no sign of the teenager who was last seen disappearing under water off-shore.
“On Sunday, police divers are continuing in an ongoing search and they are being assisted by CoCT Law Enforcement Marine Unit, CoCT lifeguards and NSRI Strandfontein.
“A Law Enforcement Marine Unit jet-ski and the NSRI jet-rib Sharon were launched to assist Police divers in the ongoing search,” Whitehead said.
Lifeguards on-duty at Monwabisi were also keeping a look-out.
Whitehead said their thoughts were with the family.
“We are appealing to bathers to only swim at beaches protected by lifeguards,” Whitehead said.
Meanwhile, the body of a Pretoria man, believed to be aged 43, was recovered from a vehicle that was semi-submerged in the Hartbeespoort Dam.
NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station commander, Arthur Crewe, said the police have opened an inquest docket.
“Friday, December 9, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty crew and Strategic Response Unit (SRU) were activated following reports of a vehicle semi-submerged in the Hartbeespoort Dam, near to the dam wall.
“The sea rescue craft Sea Legs was launched while NSRI rescue swimmers, SA Police Services, SRU members and a Police Dive Unit responded.
“On arrival on the scene police divers, assisted by NSRI rescue swimmers, sadly recovered the body of a Pretoria man, believed to be aged 43, from the semi-submerged vehicle.
“The body of the man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
“Towing services assisted police to recover the vehicle from the steep embankment.
“Police have opened an inquest docket.
“Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.”
Cape Times