- A 23-year-old man was rescued from rip currents at Milnerton Beach, but his 44-year-old friend from Belhar remains missing.
- Emergency services, lifeguards, and a Good Samaritan using an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy acted swiftly, saving one life.
- Authorities continue the search for the missing man, urging the public to swim only in lifeguarded areas.
A man was rescued at Milnerton Beach and another is still missing at sea following rip currents they were caught in on Sunday 24 November.
Their ordeal, prompted an immediate response from emergency services, including lifeguards, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) teams and air support.
While the rescue of the 23-year-old was a success, an extensive search for his his 44-year-old friend from Belhar, who was last seen struggling in the water, has not been. Efforts to find him continued yesterday (Tuesday 26 November) as authorities remained on high alert.
It appears that the two men had been swimming when they were caught in the rip currents.
According to NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon staff at a local restaurant and eyewitnesses raised the alarm. NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven and Coastwatchers West Coast were alerted.
“NSRI Table Bay rescue swimmers, Milnerton Surf lifeguards, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Western Cape Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services responded directly to the scene,” Lambinon said.
The scene
On their arrival on the scene it was found one local man had been rescued from the water by an unidentified Good Samaritan who had used an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, berthed at that beach, to rescue the man from the water successfully.
The man who was rescued was not injured. He confirmed that his friend from Belhar was still missing in the water.
The unidentified Good Samaritan who used the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy to rescue the one man is commended for his effort that saved a life.
NSRI rescue swimmers and Milnerton Surf lifeguards conducted free dive search efforts while an extensive air, sea and shoreline search continued in fast fading daylight.
Despite the extensive search efforts, that went on after dark, there remains no sign of the missing man.
The 23-year-old man attended at hospital on Sunday night where he was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms.
“Our thoughts, care and compassion, are with the family and friends of the missing man,” Lambinon says.
Despite having just gone off-duty, several lifeguards immediately responded by car and returned to the beach to launch the rescue boat, the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club said.
“By the time the lifeguards returned to the beach the second person had drifted further out and it was reported that he disappeared under the water. Lifeguards, together with the NSRI and the AMS helicopter, conducted a thorough search from 18:30 until well past sunset. Unfortunately, the second individual was not located during this time.
Search
The Police Search and Rescue team has taken over and will continue the search for the missing man.
“Our thoughts are with the relatives and friends of the missing swimmer in this extremely difficult time,” the club said. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who assisted last night. A special acknowledgment goes to all the lifeguards for their dedication on the IRB boat during the search and the invaluable support on the beach and shoreline search and in coordinating with the authorities. We are also grateful to every other club member who came down to assist in any way, it truly made a difference.”
As the days warm up and the festive season approaches, the club is urging the public to swim when and where lifeguards are on duty.
“Look out for the safe swimming areas marked by the red and yellow swim flags.”
Lifeguards are on duty at Milnerton Beach from 10:00 to 18:00 every day.
“We want to thank the squads who were on duty earlier in the day for their tireless efforts and multiple rescues, keeping our beach safe during a busy day.
