A family’s desperate appeal for help has unified communities across the Western Cape as an emergency crowdfunding campaign was launched to expand search and rescue efforts for 22-year-old Slade van der Walt, who was swept out to sea at Strand Beach on Wednesday 2 September.

Van der Walt, a former South African youth weightlifting champion and resident of Belhar, was caught in a powerful rip current while attempting to assist a swimmer in difficulty.

While official emergency services conducted an initial search, the family is refusing to give up hope and has established a dedicated fundraising campaign to keep search operations active along the coastline.

“On 2 September our family’s world changed forever,” the Van der Walt family said in a statement. “Despite the efforts of the emergency and rescue teams, Slade has not yet been found. Our family is desperate to continue searching for him.”

Specialised search team

The campaign, hosted on BackaBuddy under the title “Help us bring Slade van der Walt home“, aims to fund specialised private search operations across the ocean and shoreline. Funds raised will directly cover fuel, equipment and logistical expenses to deploy licensed drone operators, boat and jet ski crews, search teams, and private helicopters.

“Slade is more than a missing person,” the family expressed. “He is a son, a brother, a partner, a family member and a friend. Most importantly, he is a father to a daughter who is waiting for answers. We understand that searching the ocean is difficult and that there are no guarantees, but our family does not want to stop searching simply because the resources available to us are limited.”

Alongside the family’s efforts, the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Station 9 in Gordon’s Bay has issued an “Ocean Community Appeal” asking surfers, paddlers, boaters, anglers and beachgoers along the False Bay coast to keep a watchful eye.

The NSRI advised anyone who spots anything relevant not to attempt a recovery themselves, but to immediately note the location and contact emergency services.

Rescue turns deadly

The tragic incident unfolded when a swimmer experienced difficulty in choppy surf at Strand Beach. Van der Walt and a colleague rushed into the water to help. Although a surfer managed to bring the original swimmer safely to shore, both Van der Walt and his colleague were swept away.

The body of Van der Walt’s colleague, a 39-year-old man from Mfuleni, was recovered early the following morning near the Lourens River mouth in the Helderberg Protected Marine Area by NSRI Gordon’s Bay, police divers, and EMS. Strand police have since opened an inquest docket.

Volunteer search parties have already been actively combing beaches stretching from Strand, Macassar and Gordon’s Bay to Strandfontein and Hout Bay. Close family friend Wayne Steenberg emphasised the need for continued public support: “It’s been extremely difficult for his family. We are still searching and hoping to find more people to help us… to give the family closure.”

The family is asking the public for contributions of any size – whether R50, R100, R500, or simply sharing the online appeal – to help extend the search area and duration.

“Every contribution can help us search a little further, for a little longer, our greatest hope is that we can bring Slade home to his family and give his daughter the answers she deserves.

The public wishing to support the ongoing rescue search can donate or share the campaign online at www.backabuddy.co.za.