Authorities and volunteers were out in full force since Saturday to search the shore and ocean for any sign of a man who had disappeared into the waves while swimming at Kleinmond Main Beach on Saturday 15 February.
By Monday 17 February police divers were still fine-combing the area for any sign of the 26-year-old man from Ceres who was swept away after being caught in the rip current while swimming at the beach.
The man had reportedly been visiting the beach while on a work excursion.
Schalk Boonzaaier, the NSRI Kleinmond station commander, reported that the NSRI duty crew were activated at approximately 12:33 on Saturday afternoon following reports of a drowning in progress at Kleinmond Main Beach.
He added that the sea was very rough with big waves and that it was during the Spring low tide when the incident occurred.
An NSRI rescue craft was dispatched to the scene while NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS, Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services (SAPS) and Overstrand Law Enforcement officers responded.
In the meantime, a local good Samaritan man had jumped into the waves in an attempt to rescue the man in distress. He managed to reach the man in the surf zone, but had to retreat, presumably because of the rough sea conditions.
Captain Martin Mostert, commander of the Kleinmond police, confirmed that the police’s Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) were alerted.
A Western Cape Government Health EMS Metro Rescue Drone Squad was also at the scene to assist with an aerial search for the man in distress.
“Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search there remained no signs of the missing man by last light on Saturday,” said Boonzaaier.
Mostert confirmed on Monday morning that the police divers were still actively involved in the search for the missing swimmer.
“The coastline in the direction of Hawston and also towards Betty’s Bay was also being searched. An inquest docket has been opened.”
This incident occurred two weeks after an incident on Tuesday 4 February, when two tourists from the UK had a narrow escape while swimming in the ocean at Kleinmond Main Beach. The man reportedly experienced difficulties in the water when he tried to swim to the rescue of his wife, who had been caught in a rip current and was being swept out to sea.
A South African woman who lives in Scotland, but was visiting the area, grabbed a NSRI pink rescue buoy and ran to the couple’s rescue while the NSRI Kleinmond duty crew and other role-players were en route to the scene.
Ashleigh Phillip, a former lifeguard, said she swam out to the man who had become separated from his wife and handed him the buoy. Earlier reports stated she had released the pink buoy in the riptide, letting it drift towards the man.
“I just wanted to offer that correction because I think it would have been very irresponsible of me to just let go of the rescue buoy and hope that he managed to get to it, and don’t want people reading the article to think that it a good strategy.”
Phillip added that she had spoken briefly to the man about the fact that they could no longer see his wife.
“I said I would get to try see where she had gone, while he kept the buoy. Then I got out at the rocks. By the time I was back on the beach, the other people involved in the rescue were already there and helping and my assistance was no longer needed.”
Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, reported that an adult male good Samaritan, believed to be from Germany, also launched into the water and managed to assist the female UK tourist to safety.
“The British man, however, was swept further out to sea, beyond the breakers,” he said. “A NSRI rescue swimmer managed to reach him and assisted him through the surf zone to get safely back to the beach.”
The casualties were medically assessed by CMC paramedics before being released requiring no further medical care. After recovering from the day’s events, the couple reportedly continued on with their holiday.