Teenager (16) still missing after being swept out to sea
An SAPS chopper assisted with the search.
AFTER being informed by the Scottburgh SAPS on Sunday, November 20 that her 16-year-old son had disappeared while swimming with two friends at the Pennington beach, distraught Maureen Khumalo now searches the beach daily in the hopes of finding her son.
Siyabonga Khumalo is believed to have drowned around midday on Sunday.
“Police are still searching for Siyabonga,” said Scottburgh SAPS communications officer, Captain Vincent Pandarum.
Claims are that Siyabonga was swimming at the Pennington beach along with two of his friends, both teenagers, when he experienced difficulties. Attempts were made by his friends to assist him, but these proved futile.
The strong current swept him further out to sea, where it is believed that he later drowned.
“The Port Shepstone Search and Rescue Unit was called out in an attempt to find the young man, but a search for the victim proved fruitless,” said Capt Pandarum.
The search for the missing teenager resumed on Monday morning.
With support from a member of Port Shepstone Med-Evac, local lifesavers, ski-boat club members and friends and relatives of the Khumalo family, members of the Port Shepstone Search and Rescue Unit continued to search the sea and beach. They scoured the area in which the victim had disappeared.
A SAPS chopper also assisted with the search. However, the teenager remains missing.
The search was called off, but police rushed back to the scene around 2pm that afternoon when it was reported that relatives had seen what had appeared to be a head, other claimed to have seen a leg.
“The rescue team, with many years of diving and rescue experience between them, informed the friends and relatives that what they were seeing was actually a sea turtle which surfaced from time to time. A photo enlarged on a computer screen confirmed that it was indeed a turtle,” said Captain Pandarum.
The search for the missing teenager continues.
Earlier this month the SAPS issued a media release on water safety, warning the public of the dangers of swimming in the open sea, explained Capt Pandarum.
Given that the school holidays are drawing closer, parents are warned to keep track of their children’s location, the company they keep and the activities they engage in.
“It is around this time that youngsters who are left unsupervised by responsible adults, resort to drug and alcohol abuse, get involved in criminal activities such as shoplifting or putting their lives in danger by swimming in the open sea, rivers and dams,” added Capt Pandarum.
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