- The body of a 42-year-old Belhar man missing from Milnerton Beach was recovered after a week-long search.
- The tragedy began when strong rip currents caught the man and his companion, but only the younger swimmer was rescued with the help of a Pink Rescue Buoy.
- Authorities and community members emphasize the dangers of rip currents and the importance of vigilance when swimming.
After an extensive week-long search the body of a man declared missing from Milnerton Beach was recovered on Friday morning, 29 November.
The operation was led by the police diving services, and the body is now with Government Health Forensic Pathology Services for formal identification.
Authorities believe the body belongs to a 42-year-old man from Belhar who disappeared in the surf zone at Milnerton Beach on Sunday 24 November. While the official confirmation is pending his family has been informed, and heartfelt condolences have been extended to his loved ones.
The tragic incident began when the man and his 23-year-old companion were caught in strong rip currents while swimming. Eyewitnesses, including staff at a nearby restaurant, raised the alarm, prompting an immediate and coordinated response from emergency services.
A rescue and tragedy
The younger man was rescued by an unidentified Good Samaritan using an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy stationed at the beach. The rescuer’s quick actions are credited with saving the man’s life. He was taken to a hospital that evening and treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms. Unfortunately the older man could not be located despite extensive search efforts.
Emergency services, including NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven, Coastwatchers West Coast, Milnerton Surf Lifeguards, and City of Cape Town lifeguards, supported the police during the search. The Western Cape Government Health EMS Rescue Squad Drone Unit and private security also joined the effort, which included free dive searches and air and sea operations.
“Lifeguards, together with NSRI and the AMS helicopter, conducted thorough searches from 18:30 on Sunday until well past sunset,” said a representative from the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club. “By the time lifeguards returned to the beach, the second individual had drifted further out and disappeared underwater.”
A community mourns
The tragedy has left the community shaken. Craig Lambinon, spokesperson for the NSRI, praised the bravery and determination of all involved in the rescue and recovery operations, said: “Our thoughts, care, and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing man.”
The police have commended the anonymous rescuer whose use of the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy saved a life that day. The NSRI continues to emphasise the importance of these readily available rescue tools stationed at beaches across South Africa.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of rip currents and the need for vigilance when swimming in open waters.
How to spot rip currents
This is what you should look out for:
- Water through a surf zone that is a different colour to the surrounding water
- A change in the incoming pattern of waves (often the waves are not breaking in a rip channel).
- Seaweed, sand “clouds” or debris moving out to the backline where waves are forming through the surf zone
- Turbulent or choppy water in the surf zone in a channel or river-like shape flowing away from the beach
- The best resource to help you avoid rip currents are lifeguards. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, and if they are not do not swim.
- If avoidance fails: If you are caught in a rip current the most important thing to remember is: Do not panic. Stay calm and force yourself to relax. You are not going to win a fight with the ocean. Swim slowly and conservatively out of the current or relax, and let it carry you out past the breakers until it slacks.
- Take note from looking at the beach of the direction the current is pulling you in; think of it like a river and remember to get out of a river you would swim to the river bank. This means that in a rip current you should swim at 90 degrees to the direction that you are being pulled and then use the waves to help you get back to the beach.
Rip currents are not an ‘undertow’
A rip current will not pull you under the water, the NSRI says.
“As long as you can float you will be safe until you can escape the current, by swimming to the side (out of it) and then back to the beach. Be sure to maintain a slow and relaxed pace until you reach the shore or assistance arrives. If you are swimming at a beach where lifeguards are on duty, and you should not swim at beaches if lifeguards are not on duty they will be able to help you. Raise your arm and wave for help.”
If you see someone in a rip current do not go in to help unless you are trained and have emergency flotation such as the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy or a surf board.
“If you are not trained in water rescue throw something that floats into the rip current, which will carry it out to the person in difficulty. At some beaches this will not work and the only option is to call for help. The Pink Rescue Buoy signs have emergency numbers for the closest NSRI station on them or simply Google ‘Sea Rescue’ which will give you the closest Sea Rescue Station’s emergency number.”
