A 23 year-old man is missing and is believed to have drowned today, 6 August, when he was reportedly swept out to sea by rip currents at Banana Beach north of Port Shepstone.
Despite an extensive sea, shore and air search by NSRI, the police and an SAP helicopter, no sign has yet been found of the missing man.
The man believed to be from Soweto was swimming with a group of people at the time. A fellow swimmer also in difficulty in the surf managed to get out of the water unassisted and was uninjured.
Mark Harlen, NSRI Shelly Beach station commander, said at 11.15 am today volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of the man being swept out to sea by rip currents. “Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Caltex Challenger II and our NSRI rescue vehicle, Police Search and Rescue, a police helicopter and Hibiscus Medivac ambulance services responded.
“Police have opened an inquest docket and a Police Search and Rescue team is continuing with the search operation.”
(edited)
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