No sign has yet been found of a 12-year-old child who went missing while swimming in the sea at Strand Beach in False Bay, east of Cape Town, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Sunday.
Duty crews were activated on Saturday afternoon by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), following reports of a drowning in progress.
NSRI Strand station commander Alan Meiklejohn says on arrival at the scene, an air, sea, and shoreline search for the missing child commenced.
"The child, reported to be among a group of local friends who were swimming together, was reported by eyewitnesses to have disappeared underwater after appearing to be in difficulty in the surf", he said.
"Despite an extensive search, sadly no sign of the child has been found and a police dive unit is continuing in an ongoing search supported by NSRI Strand, Strand Surf Lifesaving and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services dive unit", Meiklejohn said.
- African News Agency
