The search off Strand Beach turned tragic on Thursday morning (3 September) after rescue teams recovered the body of an adult man from the surf zone, believed to be one of two men who went missing while attempting to assist a colleague in distress.
According to a follow-up statement from National Sea Rescue Institure (NSRI) Station 9 in Gordon’s Bay, emergency services were alerted through reports of a body discovered in the Helderberg Protected Marine Area near the Lourens River mouth early morning.
Crews from NSRI Gordon’s Bay, local police, police divers and Western Cape government Health EMS immediately responded to the scene.
“On arrival, the body of an adult male was located and recovered by police divers, assisted by NSRI and EMS paramedics,” the NSRI confirmed.
While formal identification by the family is currently underway in cooperation with police and Forensic Pathology Services, authorities believe the deceased is the 39-year-old man from Mfuleni who disappeared in the surf alongside a 22-year-old colleague from Belhar on Wednesday afternoon (2 September).
ALSO READ: Desperate search continues for two men swept away at Strand Beach.
The pair had apparently entered the water when their colleague fell into difficulty while swimming in choppy waters at Strand Beach. While the original swimmer was assisted by an unknown surfer, the two who came to his rescue apparently got caught in strong rip currents and disappeared in the surf, prompting a multi-disciplinary search-and-rescue effort overnight.
Strand police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
“Condolences are conveyed to the family, and thoughts and care remain with the families, friends and colleagues related to this tragedy,” the NSRI said in a statement, adding that the affected families are currently receiving support from the police.
Police divers from the Water Policing and Diving Service remain on scene and are continuing search operations in the surf zone for the remaining missing man.
