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The National Sea Rescue Institute said a search was conducted on Sunday for a young man reported missing in the Sundays River at Colchester.
NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander, Jonathan Tufts, said their duty crew was activated and responded to the incident at the Pearson Park slipway in the afternoon.
He said various role players, including SANParks rangers, SAPS K9 search and rescue, and coastal rescue swimmers attended the scene, including an off-duty government paramedic.
“On arrival on the scene, it was determined that a 17-year-old female was in difficulty in the water while swimming when a 20-year-old male went to her assistance.
“We believe that he was able to help the girl out of the water but he then disappeared underwater and he has not been seen since,” he said.
Tufts said the girl was checked by the EMS paramedic and required no further assistance while the search for the missing man continued.
He said despite an extensive search, there were no signs of him.
Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.
“Thoughts, care, and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time," said Tufts.
In the second incident reported in East London, the NSRI said its duty crew responded to a report of a drowning in progress in the surf zone at Gonubie.
East London station commander, Cathrine Prentis, said when their duty crew arrived on the scene an off-duty NSRI rescue swimmer launched into the water and reached a male child floating face down in the water.
The child was brought to shore where cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts commenced.
“NSRI medics and Priority Care paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts but sadly, after all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted, the child was declared deceased.
“It appears that local children were swimming when the child got into difficulties in the water.
“The body of the child has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police,” Prentis said.
