The NSRI in the Eastern Cape and Garden Route were called into action this weekend.
NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, Sarah Smith, said duty crew dispatched rescue swimmers to The Cove following reports of a drowning in progress.
“Two private boats, with NSRI St Francis Bay crew onboard, that happened to be on the water and nearby to the scene at the time, responded,” she said.
Private Care ambulance services, SA Police Services and EC Government Health EMS responded.
“On arrival on the scene a search commenced for a 35 year old male, believed to be a local man, who had disappeared under water after being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming,” Smith said.
“During an extensive sea and shoreline search effort, including a sweeping line free dive search conducted by NSRI rescue swimmers, the body of the man was located and recovered from the water and brought to the shoreline where the body was taken into the care of the SA Police Services and the Forensic Pathology Services.”
In other incidents reported this weekend, East London NSRI went to the assistance of a yacht which reported mechanical trouble.
East London NSRI station commander, Geoff McGregor, said that the Spirit of Lotto towed the yacht Cosmos into port in the early hours of Saturday morning.
