A young man is missing after apparently being caught in a strong rip current and swept out to sea at a beach in Port Alfred on Saturday afternoon, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated shortly before 4pm following reports of three men being swept out to sea at West Beach, Port Alfred, NSRI Port Alfred deputy station commander Stephen Slade said on Sunday.
“Our NSRI rescue vehicle carrying NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene and our sea rescue craft Rescue Eleven Alpha was launched,” he said.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), Eastern Cape health emergency medical services (EMS), Ndlambe municipality traffic services and fire and rescue services, and Guardmed private ambulance services also responded.
“On arrival on the scene it was found that two young men, aged in their 20s, had managed to get out of the water without assistance and a young man, believed to be aged in his early 20s, was missing in the surf after reportedly being witnessed being swept out to sea in a strong rip current surge and disappearing underwater.
“The two men found out of the water were not injured. We believe that they are all from Rhodes University and police are investigating. Police and a police dive unit will continue in an ongoing search operation [for the missing man],” Slade said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
