On Saturday, three teenagers were rescued by bystanders altering being swept away by Milnerton’s Sunset Beach currents. However, one was lost at sea.
According to Terence Lawson, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty coxswain, the 18-year-old is still missing despite an extensive search that included police divers. He is reportedly from Mandalay as IOL notes.
An initial call for help pertained to a non-fatal drowning accident, and shortly after came the incident at Sunset Beach where four teens were being swept away due to the trying currents they encountered surfing.
A large team banded together to come to the rescue, including the NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Table Bay, Milnerton surf life-saving, WC government health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, Life Healthcare response paramedics, City of Cape Town (CoCT) law enforcement officers, community medics, Cape Town fire and rescue services and the SA Police Service responded,” according to Lawson as per Sowetan Live.
One was rescued by a husband and wife from Mauritius using NSRI pin rescue buoys. The other teens at sea was rescued by another bystander with a bodyboard alongside the Mauritian hero.
These teenagers were brought back safely to shore and were not injured. However, the last teen surfer was still missing.
An arsenal of search team members gathered
“A Milnerton life-saving lifeguard IRHB (inflatable rigid hull boat) rescue craft and 3 NSRI IRHB rescue craft, NSRI Table Bay’s Spirit of Day and NSRI Melbosstrand’s Rescue 18 Alpha and Film Industry Fund Rescuer 2, searched in the surfline. Shoreline search efforts were conducted. The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter conducted an aerial search and EMS rescue paramedics used a search and rescue drone to assist in the aerial search,” said Lawson.
However, the teen has still not been found.
Cape {town} Etc is awaiting communication from the NSRI regarding updates.
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