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A 20-year-old man from the Eastern Cape is presumed to have drowned in Sedgefield, between Myoli Beach and the Swartvlei River Mouth.
Spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Craig Lambinon said the incident took place on Saturday at around 19h23.
NSRI Wilderness rescue swimmers, NSRI Sedgefield lifeguards and the SA Police Services responded, he said.
Lambinon said an extensive sea and shoreline search commenced for the 20-year-old who had reportedly disappeared under water after being caught in rip currents while swimming with friends.
He said despite an extensive search there remained no signs of the missing man.
The police’s Water Policing and Diving Services were also activated and police divers, assisted by local police, NSRI Wilderness and by NSRI lifeguards continued the search on Sunday.
“Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time,” Lambinon said.
At the same time, the NSRI, police, lifeguards and the emergency services were appealing to bathers, boaters, sailors, paddlers, shoreline anglers and coastal hikers to be cautious as the full moon Spring tide, that peaks on Sunday, 15 December, bringing a higher than normal high tide and lower than normal low tide, that will last well into the new week, may cause stronger than normal sea currents and rip currents, cut off some coastal hiking trails and affect coastal shoreline anglers during the high tide.
The NSRI said while sea currents and rip currents are unpredictable at all times, the concerns are that with the second high tide of the day peaking during the mid-afternoon, between 15h15 and 16h30, the outgoing tide may cause sea and rip currents to be stronger than normal.
Meanwhile, the Bitou municipality said a body washed up at the dunes. In a post on its Facebook page on Sunday, the municipality said emergency personnel were on the scene and that police are investigating. The body was taken by the forensic pathologist.
