A child believed to be eight years old is missing at sea after he was allegedly caught in a rip current on Monday.
The spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Craig Lambinon, says they were alerted of a drowning in progress at Noetzie Beach and responded to the scene.
He says, according to information at their disposal, the child had been swimming with friends when an adult on the beach suggested they return.
Lambinon says when it seemed like the child was caught in a rip current an adult bystander tried to rescue him before he disappeared underwater.
He says a local man, Duran de Villiers, volunteered his private helicopter to assist in the search operation.
Swimmers and divers were also sweeping the area - despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search, there remains no sign of the child.
Additional information was requested from SAPS, who are yet to respond.
This is the second sea tragedy involving children in the Garden Route in the last few days.
On Saturday, two children drowned in a kayaking incident on Nature’s Valley Lagoon, while a third managed to make it to shore to raise the alarm.
The victims were aged between eight and 10.
