France youth rugby player ‘swept away’ by wave in Cape Town

The National Sea and Rescue Institute (NSRI) are continuing its search for a member of France’s under-18s rugby squad who went missing in Cape Town.

It is understood that 17-year-old Medhi Narjissi went missing at Diaz Beach, Cape Point on Wednesday.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said Narjissi may have been swimming at the beach when strong rip currents swept the teenager into the surf zone.

Swept away

Lambinon said a teammate who unsuccessfully attempted to rescue Narjissi managed to return to shore uninjured.

“It appeared that two people were in the surf zone in rip currents when one person had come ashore but the second person may have disappeared in the water. Despite an extensive sea, air, and shoreline search there remain no signs of the missing teenager.

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

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

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French Rugby Federation

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) said Narjissi and the France rugby team were in a bonding session in Cape Town when Narjissi went missing.

“The FFR has learned with great emotion that Medhi Narjissi, Stade Toulouse player, who travelled to South Africa to compete in the International Series with the French men’s under-18 team, has disappeared,” it said.

Knysna teen

Last month, a South African mother was left heartbroken after the body of her 20-year-old son who had gone diving off the coast of Greece was found in a tragic incident that gripped the community of Knysna.

Benjamin Bezuidenhout went free-diving in the sea north of Sami, off the island of Kefalonia.

When the former Knysna High School pupil didn’t return, alarm bells sounded, and a full-scale search began.

The Hellenic Coast Guard, private vessels, a diver, and a Hellenic Air Force helicopter participated in the search. Bezuidenhout’s body was later found near the area where he was last seen swimming.

In March, skipper John Matambu went missing after a charter fishing ski boat, captained by the KwaZulu-Natal skipper, was found wrecked and burnt along the Mozambique coastline.

ALSO READ: ‘Person of interest’?! Interpol on board to unravel case of missing Sodwana Bay skipper