The body of the second person who drowned at Victoria Bay near George on August 31, has been recovered.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said the body has been identified as that of the 20-year-old who went missing while swimming with a teenager.
The tragedy claimed the lives of two people - a 17-year-old boy and the 20-year-old.
According to NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon, they received multiple calls from eyewitnesses reporting the drowning in progress just before 6pm on August 31.
“On arrival on scene, we found eyewitnesses indicating where two swimmers had disappeared in the surf zone after being swept out to sea by rip currents.”
He said an extensive sea and shoreline search yielded no results at the time.
On September 3, the body of the 17-year-old was recovered, said Lambinon.
“SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) recovered a body, assisted by NSRI Wilderness, at Victoria Bay, believed to be that of the 17-year-old.
“On Saturday (September 7), a group of paddlers, paddling from Victoria Bay to Sedgefield, came across a body floating in the sea and the alarm was raised at around 9am.”
Lambinon said the relevant authorities were notified.
“The body was located and recovered onto the NSRI rescue craft and brought to the NSRI rescue base where the body was taken into the care of Forensic Pathology Services.”
He commended the group of paddlers for their assistance.
Lambinon expressed his deepest condolences to the families of both the deceased.
IOL News