The ocean claimed two lives on North Coast beaches this afternoon.
At Westbrook main beach, a 25-year-old man drowned while swimming in the ocean at around 4 pm.
Nazir Sadack, the team leader for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), reported that despite prompt efforts from Ethekweni Lifeguards, the man vanished beneath the waves due to strong currents and rough conditions.
The search for the deceased has been halted for the day and is expected to resume tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, in another heartbreaking incident at Christmas Bay in Sheffield, a 16-year-old boy from Tongaat drowned while enjoying the beach with his aunt and uncle.
Christmas Bay is not a designated swimming beach.
According to Samantha Meyrick of IPSS Search and Rescue, the boy encountered difficulties while swimming and disappeared beneath the water.
KwaDukuza lifeguards initiated a search operation, deploying watercraft alongside IPSS Search and Rescue personnel to find the missing teen, without success.
The search will continue tomorrow.
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