French teen swept out to sea at Cape Point

A search is underway for a 17-year-old French u/18 school rugby team member who went missing after being swept out to sea at Diaz Beach at Cape Point yesterday afternoon.

According to a media statement issued by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), members of the rugby squad were visiting Cape Point and swimming at Diaz Beach when strong rip currents swept the teenager, identified as Medhi Narjissi by French publication LeParisien, into the surf zone.

At 15:16, NSRI’s Emergency Operations Centre was contacted by Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) rangers reporting that they thought a person was in difficulty in the water.

“From a vantage point above the cliffs, the TMNP rangers reported that it appeared that two people were in the surf zone in rip currents… It appeared to the rangers that one person had come ashore but the second person may have disappeared in the water.”

While raising the alarm, the rangers responded to the scene, below the cliffs of Cape Point’s main parking area, to investigate.

The City of Cape Town water rescue network, NSRI Simon’s Town and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews were activated.

Cape Medical Response dispatched an ambulance, a rescue vehicle and a paramedic response vehicle.

Two NSRI rescue craft from NSRI Simon’s Town Station 10 and two from NSRI Hout Bay Station 8 were launched.

The SAPS, an NSRI Simon’s Town rescue vehicle and an NSRI Hout Bay rescue vehicle responded.

The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, accompanied by a metro rescue diver, responded.

On arrival at the scene, air, sea and shoreline rescue resources joined TMNP rangers to search for the missing teenager.

One of the teenager’s friends, who is reported to have tried to rescue him from the surf zone, reached the shore and was not injured.

The Police Water Policing and Diving Services were alerted.

Four NSRI rescue craft, the Skymed rescue helicopter and shoreline rescue crews, conducted extensive search efforts.

At the time of the incident, there were three- to four-metre swells, said NSRI.

Police divers are continuing the search.

“Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family, friends and the rugby team of the missing teenager in this difficult time,” says NSRI.

French authorities and authorities of the City of Cape Town tourism are assisting with counselling and logistics.