The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) continues searching for a man who went missing in the surf at Bloubergstrand Beach in Table View on Sunday. 

According to the NSRI, its Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated at about 1.20pm after eyewitnesses reported a man appearing to be in difficulty in the surf zone at the beach next to the Dolphin Beach Hotel in front of the KFC. 

The City of Cape Town’s (CoCT) Water Rescue Network was also 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. Additional eyewitness reports were being received by NSRI Emergency Operations Centre indicating that the male person was in the water in distress,” NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Rowan Marais said. 

The Western Cape Government Health EMS, Big Bay Surf Lifesaving (BBSLC), the South African Police Services (SAPS) and its Water Policing and Diving Services, Community Medics, ER24 ambulance services, CoCT Law Enforcement, and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, responded to the scene.

“A BBSLC rigid hull inflatable boat was joined on the scene, searching in the surf zone and beyond, by our two NSRI rescue craft. The three rescue craft conducted extensive sweeping line search efforts in and beyond the surf zone. An EMS Aerial Drone Rescue Unit was activated and conducted aerial drone search operations. Rescue swimmers were deployed into the surf zone, conducting sweeping line free dive search efforts. Despite the extensive sea, air, and shoreline search, there remain no signs of the missing male,” Marais said. 

The missing person remains unidentified. 

“The missing person, believed to be a black a male, remains unidentified and is believed to have been wearing shorts and a pink cap when entering the water and getting into difficulty before disappearing in the surf zone,” Marais said. 

Authorities are appealing to anyone with information that could assist in their efforts to call Table View police station at 021 521 3338 or Crim Stop at 08600 10111, or the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre at 087 094 9774. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

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