Yaeesh Collins|Published
A 35-year-old man from Witbank, Mpumalanga, remains missing after facing difficulty in the sea near Salmon Bay in Ballito on Saturday morning, 24 October.
The man was swimming in an area without lifeguards when he got into difficulty. His brother-in-law entered the water to help, but NSRI Ballito station commander Mike Bishop said the man disappeared underwater before he could reach him.
Bishop said that the man "disappeared under water before the brother-in-law could reach him."
Having sustained minor injuries during the rescue attempt, Bishop confirmed that paramedics treated the distressed brother-in-law on the scene for cuts and bruises, stating that he needed no additional medical care.
An off-duty IPSS Medical Rescue member who was nearby witnessed the man apparently being caught in rip currents and raised the alarm shortly before 8am.
Bishop said the NSRI duty crew was activated after receiving reports of a “drowning in progress” at Salmon Bay.
SAPS Search and Rescue, Metro Police, IPSS Medical Rescue and KwaDukuza lifeguards responded to the scene.
Rescue teams conducted sea and shoreline searches throughout Saturday, but no trace of the man was found.
Police have opened an investigation into the incident. SAPS Search and Rescue, KwaDukuza lifeguards and Metro Police continued searching on Sunday morning with no luck finding the missing man.
Bishop said that the rescue teams’ “thoughts and care are focused on the family of the missing man in this trying time.”
IOL