Rip currents sweep swimmer away on Christmas day in East London
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has launched an extensive search for a 24-year-old man who went missing while swimming at Glen Eden, East London, on Christmas Day.
According to the NSRI, the man was swimming with a family member when they were apparently caught in rip currents. The family member managed to reach the shore safely, but the missing man was swept out to sea.
“On arrival on the scene, a search commenced for a local 24-year-old male who had gone missing in the water while swimming with a male family member who had reached the shore safely after it appears that they may have both been caught in rip currents,” NSRI said.
NSRI further said that following the incident, multiple rescue resources were deployed, including NSRI rescue craft, emergency medical services, the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, and a private aircraft. Police Water Policing and Diving Services, K9 Search and Rescue units, and a Mounted Unit also joined the search.
“Despite the extensive air, sea and shoreline search that extended to beyond the back breakers and to Gonubie, there remains no sign of the missing man. Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), Police K9 Search and Rescue and a Police Mounted Unit, are continuing in ongoing search efforts”.
“Thoughts and care are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time”.
NSRI also announced that a separate incident occurred the previous day, when a teenager went missing while another was rescued after being caught in rip currents at Fish Hoek beach in Cape Town.
“Despite extensive air, sea and shoreline search efforts, there remains no signs of the missing 18-year-old male. Police WPDS responded, and Police divers, assisted by a Police Air Wing helicopter, have taken over in ongoing search efforts for the missing teenager”.
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