A man is missing after falling into a Port St Johns river when a canoe he was in capsized.
Despite extensive searches by NSRI volunteer duty crew this afternoon the man has not been found and the search is continuing.
John Costello, NSRI Port St Johns station commander, said at about 2 pm today volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a capsized canoe on the Mzimvubu River Mouth and an adult man was missing.
“It appears that an employee from a local guest lodge who was in his mid thirties took a guest at the lodge to go paddling on Indian Canoes. While paddling the canoe capsized and according to eye-witnesses the man disappeared under water. He was not wearing a life-jacket.
“The guest who is from Durban tried to assist him from the she was on but in the swells of the river mouth she aborted the efforts. She returned to shore safely.
The NSRI duty crew responded on board a dive charter boat and despite an extensive search no sign of the missing man has been found. The canoe and the oar have been located and recovered.
“It is feared that the man has drowned,” says Costello. “A Police dive unit and a Police K-9 dog search and rescue unit will continue a search from tomorrow morning.”
Police will open an inquest docket. The family of the missing man have not yet been traced.
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