Two men missing feared drowned

PENNINGTON BEACH and WILD COAST SUN – Tuesday 13th March 2012. Two men missing feared drowned:


Pennington Beach:

At 18h00 on Tuesday 13th March NSRI Durban volunteer sea rescue duty crew and Police Search and Rescue were called out following reports of a drowning in progress at Pennington Beach, South of Durban.

The duty crew responded to the scene towing a sea rescue craft and Police Search and Rescue also responded.

On arrival a search commenced for a 33 year old Zimbabwean man who had disappeared in the surf while swimming.

Andre Fletcher, NSRI Durban deputy station commander said that an extensive search revealed no sign of the man. He is presumed to have drowned.

A local bystander, Carl Elkington, had swum out to try to rescue the man prior to sea rescue services arriving on scene but the man had disappeared beneath the surf before he could be reached.

It appears that the missing man, who for the past two years in lived in Cape Town, had been swimming with a friend when he may have been caught in a rip-current before getting into difficulty and disappearing.

Police have opened an inquest docket and Police Search and Rescue will continue an ongoing search operation.

The name of the man has not been released while authorities are attempting to inform family of the missing man.

Wild Coast Casino:

At 18h20 on Tuesday 13th March NSRI Port Edward were called out following reports from lifeguards at Water World that a 20 year old man had gone missing in the surf in front of the Wild Coast Sun Casino.

NSRI Port Edward volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to the scene and a search commenced.

Allan Stilwell, NSRI Port Edward duty controller, said that despite an extensive search no sign of the man has been found and he is missing and is presumed to have drowned.

It appears that a group of 12 men, between 18 and 22 years old, had gone swimming in the surf together. Six of the 12 left the water and the remaining 6 continued to swim. It was later noticed that one of the remaining of them had disappeared.

The 20 year old man is from the local village area Sea View.

Police have been informed and NSRI Port Edward and Police Search and Rescue will continue a search today (14th March).

- NSRI