A teenage disappeared in the surf at Camps bay Cape Town today after apparently being caught by a rip current.
Despite an extensive air, sea and shore search no sign of the missing teenager has been found and he is presumed to have drowned. Police opened an investigation into the young man’s disappearance and a Police Dive Unit will continue an ongoing search operation.
NSRI Bakovern duty crew report they were alerted at 10.45 this am, 12 September by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) after eye-witness reports of a missing teenager. A group of 23 teenagers and young adults from Mannenberg arrived at Camps Bay to spend the day at the beach. While some were swimming in the surf one of the group, a 17 year-old boy, appeared to get into difficulty and disappeared beneath the surf, purportedly pulled under by a rip curent..
NSRI Bakoven launched the sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper and rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene, NSRI Table Bay dispatched the sea rescue craft Rotary Endeavour and their sea rescue vehicle. The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, ER24 ambulance services, Community Medics, Life Care paramedic response, WC Government Health EMS, the SA Police Services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers with their rescue jet-ski and Law Enforcement Marine officers and their rescue jet-ski also responded.
As part of an ongoing search rescue swimmers conducted sweeping line searches free diving in the surf zone and SAP divers conducted scuba dive searches in the area.
NSRI Hout Bay also dispatched the sea rescue craft Albie Matthews to assist in the extensive search and a Police Dive Unit rigid inflatable boat joined in the search. Police trauma counsellors attended to the group of teenagers.
The NSRI has warned all bathers to be extra careful of rip currents during the current Spring tides.
(edited by St Francis Chronicle)
St Francis Chronicle 