The body of a man who was reported missing on Monday, 11 November, and thought to be a female missing in the surf zone at Sunrise Beach, was located and recovered yesterday on Saturday morning, Cape {town} Etc reports.
On Saturday morning at 07:56am, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Strandfontein were alerted to reports of a body on Sunrise Beach, near Strandfontein.
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The South African Police Service (SAPS), the City of Cape Town (CoCT) Law Enforcement Marine Unit and CoCT lifeguards responded, according to a press statement issued by the NSRI.
The body of the man has been identified by family members and taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
It is believed that the deceased male may be the person who went missing in the surf zone at Sunrise Beach, near Muizenberg, on the False Bay Coast, at around 11:40am on Monday.
The male was initially reported as an unidentified woman wearing a yellow T-shirt.
‘At 11:44am, Monday, 11 November, the CoCT water rescue network and NSRI Strandfontein duty crew were activated following an eyewitness report made to NSRI’s EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) of a female appearing to be in distress before disappearing under water in the surf zone at Sunrise Beach, Muizenberg,’ said Nicolette Whitehead, NSRI Strandfontein station commander, on Tuesday, 12 November.
‘CoCT lifeguards, NSRI Strandfontein rescue swimmers, CoCT Law Enforcement officers and CoCT Law Enforcement Marine Unit, the SA Police Services, CoCT Disaster Risk Management and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded,’ Whitehead added.
Upon arrival on the scene, several eyewitnesses reported that they suspected that the victim had disappeared underwater in the surf zone.
NSRI Strandfontein rescue swimmers entered the water and conducted free dive search efforts in an attempt to locate the victim.
Meanwhile, the four rescue craft conducted search efforts in the surf zone and beyond.
Currently, the police have opened an inquest docket into the man’s death.
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Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images
