The family of a Northern Cape man who drowned at Melkbosstrand last week has thanked everyone involved in the search and recovery efforts.
Also read: Body of missing man and one of his dogs wash up at Haakgat Beach
The body of a man, believed to be that of Pierre Lotter, 23, was located and recovered on Sunday near to Melkbosstrand, a matter of days after another body, believed to be that of 47-year-old Willem Pretorius, was recovered in the area.
It is alleged that the two men from Kathu, along with their three Dachshund dogs, had been fishing at Kid’s Rock, off-shore of Bloubergstrand, in the vicinity of the Blue Peter Hotel, when the incident occurred.
Formal identification remains in the process in cooperation with family, the SA Police Services and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Two of the missing dogs, sadly deceased, were also located and recovered on Sunday.
One of the missing dogs was located and recovered, sadly deceased, during the week by City of Cape Town staff.
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The City of Cape Town (CoCT), in cooperation with NSRI and Police divers, are arranging formal cremation of the thre dogs on behalf of the family.
During the ongoing search along the Bloubergstrand coastline, Tableview police, a police helicopter, CoCT council workers, an EMS rescue squad drone search and a rescue team assisted the police divers (WPDS – Water Policing and Diving Services) in their extensive search efforts.
While the family has respectfully requested privacy during this difficult time, the NSRI published a letter on their behalf, thanking rescuers for their efforts.
‘Words cannot describe the appreciation we have for all the CoCT Law Enforcement, NSRI (Craig of NSRI, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Table Bay), the SAPS Dive Unit (Warrant Officer Gert Voigt and his Water Policing and Diving Services team), Tableview Police, Cape Town Fire and Rescue, EMS, Big Bay Surf Lifesaving, Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, Counsellors, the community, and all of the individuals who searched, donated items, and offered support finding our son Pierre,’ read the statement.
‘We were overwhelmed by the number of people that stopped what they were doing and rushed to help search for our missing son and his beloved dogs. Thank you to the Emergency Services on the scene for their tremendous efforts to resuscitate Willem.’
‘Unfortunately, their efforts did not succeed and sadly Willem passed on at the scene. Together with all those wonderful people, who were there on the evening of 14 May and did whatever they could to help us. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you.’
‘We are forever thankful to every individual who searched for Pierre and did not stop searching. We are very thankful that Pierre and his beloved dogs were found so the family can have closure.’
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Also read:
One deceased while man and dogs go missing at Bloubergstrand
Picture: Supplied by family
