Rescuers believe the body of a 22-year-old man found in the vicinity of Kei River Mouth in the Eastern Cape could be that of a beachgoer who was reported missing while swimming with friends on Monday.
The body was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
It was discovered during search efforts at Kei River Mouth led by the SA Police Services, Police K9 Search and Rescue, assisted by NSRI rescue swimmers.
“While formal identification of the deceased man by family is in progress, it is believed that the body of the man located and recovered is the local 22-year-old male who went missing in the water at Kei River Mouth on Sunday while swimming with friends,” said Monica Maroun, NSRI Kei Mouth station commander.
NSRI Kei Mouth was activated on Sunday following reports of a drowning in progress.
“An off duty lifeguard, on holiday in the area and who happened to be there at the time, had entered the water to search for the local man who had gone missing while swimming. NSRI Kei Mouth rescue swimmers, KWAG (Kei Watch Action Group) and the SA Police Services responded, while NSRI East London were placed on alert. The lifeguard was joined by NSRI Kei Mouth rescue swimmers where free dive search efforts revealed no signs of the missing man.”
Police K9 Search and Rescue, assisted by NSRI rescue swimmers, continued in the ongoing search efforts and on Monday afternoon a body, believed to be the missing man, was located and recovered.
An inquest has since been open for further investigation.
The NSRI conveyed condolences to family and friends of the man.
Cape Times