An extensive search has been launched for a man who has disappeared in the surf at Bloubergstrand Beach at Table View in Cape Town.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, says rescue crews were activated following eye-witness accounts of the man in shorts and a pink cap getting into difficulty.

Lambinon says three rescue craft were launched and rescue swimmers deployed.

“An unidentified male has gone missing in the surf. At 13h20, Sunday, 24 August, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a male appearing to be in difficulty in the surf zone at Bloubergstrand Beach, Table View, next to Dolphin Beach Hotel (in front of KFC),” he says.

He says the City of Cape Town Water Rescue Network was activated.

NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene, while our NSRI duty crew responded to our NSRI Melkbosstrand station 18 rescue base, where the NSRI rescue craft Rotary’s Gift and Rescue 18 Alpha were launched.