An extensive search was conducted on Wednesday for a 70-year-old man who was reported missing while scuba-diving off Noordhoek in Port Elizabeth.
The NSRI station commander, Ian Gray, said that their duty crew was activated at around midday.
“An extensive search, including a sea, shoreline, air and scuba-dive search, for the missing 70- year-old local man has been carried out,” he said.
Gray said resources deployed in the search operation included seven private boats from Noordhoek ski-boat club, a team of private scuba divers who are qualified rescue divers, the Police Dive Unit, the NSRI PE sea rescue craft Spirit of Toft and Eikos Rescuer IV and the NSRI rescue vehicle.
He said an SA Air Force 15 Squadron, Charlie Flight BK-117 helicopter, EC Government Health EMS and Coastal Water Rescue were also deployed in the search.
Gray said the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Transnet National Ports Authority and Telkom Maritime Radio Service also assisted.
“Despite the extensive search no sign of the missing man has been found,” Gray said.
He said NSRI Port Alfred were dispatched to assist the wife of the missing man while his family are also being assisted by the NSRI and the SA Police Services.
Gray said that the NSRI commended the private divers who joined police divers in the scuba-dive search as well as the private boat owners who also joined in the search operation.
