UPDATE: Police in Nelson Mandela Bay have confirmed that the man’s body was found by community members this morning, Monday, May 16.
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A man from Johannesburg is missing at sea in Nelson Mandela Bay after he landed in trouble following a swim yesterday afternoon, Sunday, May 15.
NSRI Gqeberha duty controller, Sheryll Grobler, said that the duty crew was activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Brighton Beach.
“Our sea rescue craft Rescue 6 Alpha was launched. Our NSRI rescue vehicle, Blue Water Bay lifeguards, The Beach Office, SA Police Services, Coastal Water Rescue and EC Government Health EMS responded. Upon our sea rescue vehicle’s arrival at the scene, we joined the Blue Water Bay lifeguards in a search for a Johannesburg man, aged in his early 20s, who had gone missing in the surf while swimming,” Grobler explained.
She added that two Blue Water Bay lifeguards and an NSRI rescue swimmer entered the water and conducted sweeping line free dive search efforts from the shoreline through the surfline to the backline. A Bluewater Bay lifeguard jet-ski also arrived at the scene and was joined in a search by the NSRI rescue craft and two Beach Office rescue jet-skis.
“A friend of the missing man had reportedly earlier tried to rescue him but was unable to before the man disappeared under water. Despite the extensive sea and shoreline search there remains no sign of the missing man,” she said.
“Police Search and Rescue are continuing in an ongoing search. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.”
