Two girls, aged 12 and 15, drowned after they were swept out to sea by strong rapids while swimming at the beach in Park Rynie on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal yesterday.

The Mi7 National Group said its emergency medical team was dispatched just after 13:00 after a request for assistance from the police’s search and rescue teams in Park Rynie.

“Police teams had embarked on a wide scale rescue operation after two young girls were swept out to sea by strong rapids.

“It is believed their families were holidaying in the area and the girls were playing in the surf when the current pulled them deeper,” Mi7 said in a statement.

Bystanders recovered the body of the 15-year-old girl who had drowned, and extensive rescue operations by police, Mi7 medics, and their counterparts from other service providers, are underway to find the 12-year-old.

Mi7 said the search was called off yesterday due to oceanic conditions, and that it will continue again this morning.