The NSRI are continuing their search after one teenager was found dead and a second went missing after getting into difficulty in the surf line at Strand Beach.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the police diving unit was still searching for one of the teens yesterday after the 17 and 16-year-olds were reported missing shortly after 7pm on Saturday.
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“NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew was activated following calls received by GB Med Sec ambulance services and by the CoCT (City of Cape Town) 107 emergency room of two people in difficulty in the surf line at Strand Beach near to Strand Beach Lifesaving Club,” NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon, told IOL.
“The CoCT Water Rescue Network was activated to the drowning in progress, and the NSRI Gordon’s Bay crew responded to our NSRI rescue station at Gordons Bay Harbour and launched the sea rescue craft Rescue 9 Bravo.”
Lambinon said that law enforcement had reportedly arrived on the scene where witnesses said that the teenagers had gone missing in the water.
“On their arrival, a sea and shoreline search commenced for the two male teenagers. NSRI rescue swimmers initiated sweeping-line free-dive search efforts while the NSRI rescue craft searched through the wave lines. Emergency services on the shoreline conducted shoreline search efforts.”
“A group of members of the public 300m down the beachfront came across one of the missing teenagers in the shallow surf.”
“NSRI rescue swimmers and GB Med Sec paramedics assisted in the recovery of the teenager on to the beach where CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) efforts commenced, but sadly despite CPR efforts the 16-year-old boy from Delft was declared deceased,” Lambinon said.
Meanwhile, police divers and local police continued their search for the other missing teen yesterday.
NSRI Gordons Bay, a law enforcement marine unit, GB Med Sec ambulance services, Western Cape Government Health EMS and local neighbourhood watch members assisted police divers in their ongoing search.
“Strand Surf Lifesaving lifeguards have also been activated to keep a lookout during their normal duty hours at Strand Beach. We are appealing to the public to only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty and swim between the red and yellow flagged safe demarcated swimming zone posted by lifeguards,” Lambinon said.
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