Search continues for two swimmers presumed to have drowned at Cape Town beach

The pair, aged 17 and 25, went missing in the surf on Monday.

Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk said their diving unit had been called to the scene, but the ocean had not been conducive to dive at the time.

“Hopefully the sea is stable [on Tuesday], so that the search for the missing can proceed, however, members [are] doing shore patrols in the vicinity.”

On Monday, the National Sea Rescue Institute’s Strandfontein duty crew launched their craft and dispatched rescue swimmers, while provincial health emergency medical services and their rescue squad was also dispatched to search for the missing swimmers.

Sea, air and shoreline search

A rescue helicopter, members of the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue services, law enforcement marine officers and lifeguards had also been part of the operation.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the man was believed to be visiting from Port Elizabeth, while the teenager was from Delft.

They had been reported to have been in difficulty in the surf, before disappearing in the surf-line, he confirmed.

“A man who was with both of these males while they were swimming had reportedly also been in difficulty. He had managed to get out of the surf and was not injured.”

An extensive sea, air and shoreline search followed, but no sign of the missing man and boy was found, Lambinon said.

Missing persons reports have been registered at the Mitchells Plain police station for further investigation, Van Wyk said.

According to the Stats SA Mortality and Cause of death report, drownings made up 4.1% (1 411 cases) of deaths due to external causes of accidental injury in 2016.

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