Swimmer rescued but one still missing

ONE man was rescued from the sea at Strand beach at the weekend, but another is still missing.

NSRI Gordon’s Bay station commander Alan Meiklejohn said: “A police dive unit and the police are in an ongoing search for a man, believed to be aged 30, who is missing at Strand Beach.”

He said the NSRI was activated on Saturday afternoon following reports that two men were in difficulty in the surf and caught in rip currents.

He said Strand Lifesaving and other emergency services responded.

“One person, a man aged 27 from Johannesburg, was recovered from the water and he was taken to hospital by ER24 ambulance in a serious but stable condition. He is expected to fully recover.

“Despite an extensive search there remains no sign of the missing man who is believed to be from Pretoria. Police have opened an investigation,” Meiklejohn said.

He added that police divers were activated and attended at the scene and were engaged in ongoing search efforts.

He said that earlier on Saturday, NSRI Gordon’s Bay responded with sea rescue craft to of Bikini Beach, Gordon’s Bay, where a man and a woman on a double sea kayak were in difficulty after capsizing in a strong off-shore wind.

“On arrival we found the man and the woman in the water next to their kayak. They were rescued on to our sea rescue craft and brought to shore, and their kayak was recovered.

“They were treated for hypothermia at our NSRI base and following treatment ER24 paramedics released them.”

Later in the day, Strand Surf Lifesaving initiated a search for a man believed to be missing in the surf in front of Deep Blue, on Strand main beach, in full scuba gear.

“During a search it was confirmed that the man had exited the water, walked home and was safe, and this had been a false alarm with good intentions,” said Meiklejohn. |