File
The National Sea Rescue Institute said a 22-year-old man is missing after being swept off the rocks between Robberberg Nature Reserve and Kranshoek, near Plettenberg Bay.
NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said their Plettenberg Bay duty crew was activated following reports on a WhatsApp group of a drowning in progress at Stilbaai.
He said a man, believed to be aged 30, had raised the alarm after reaching a residence above the cliffs of a popular hiking trail and the popular fishing coastline.
Lambinon said the man reported that he had tried to save his friend, but after all attempts and with no cell signal at the remote location, he had made the difficult decision to run for help.
“Covering a significant distance he reached a farm residence above the cliffs where he appealed to the residents to raise the alarm.
“The resident, believed to be a local farmer, alerted Tech Security and NSRI was activated, along with WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and the SA Police Services (SAPS),” Lambinon said.
He said various role-players, including the police, EMS rescue squad ambulance, and a rescue helicopter responded.
A local “good Samaritan”, Duran de Villiers, volunteered to respond aboard his private boat, from Knysna, accompanied by his aerial drone, to assist NSRI and the emergency services.
Lambinon said it was determined that because of the significant distance that the man had needed to cover to reach a place where the alarm could be raised some significant time lapse had passed since the incident had happened.
He said an extensive search was conducted but revealed no sign of the missing man while his friend was admitted to a hospital in a stable condition in shock.
