Bodyboarder missing, shark warning issued for Chintsa

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has issued a watch for sharks along the coastline between East London and north of Chintsa in the Eastern Cape.

This comes after a 38-year-old man went missing while body boarding on Tuesday.

The South African Police Service (SAPS), police K-9 search and rescue and a police dive unit launched a manhunt and now been joined by a private helicopter owner who volunteered to assist in the search.

The Eastern Cape government health EMS rescue helicopter and friends of the missing man have also launched boats to assist in the police search.

According to the NSRI on Wednesday, the missing man was body boarding in the surfline at Chintsa but later in the day his bodyboard was found washed up on the beach, while the man was nowhere to be found.

The bodyboard appears to have bite marks on the board that may be the bite marks from a shark and this is being investigated to confirm if this is the case.

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“Although at this early stage a shark incident cannot be confirmed, this public warning is based on the assumption this incident may be shark related and caution is advised.

“As a precaution NSRI and Buffalo City metropolitan municipality are appealing to bathers, paddlers and surfers to be cautious along the stretch of coastline between East London and north of Chintsa,” said the NSRI.

The institute has appealed to anyone who may have been in the area of Chintsa Beach on Tuesday around 11am to come forward if they noticed anything that may be related to the case.

“We are appealing to public members that use that stretch of coastline to keep a look out. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.”