Cape Town - A 17-year-old boy is still missing, while the body of his 16-year-old friend was found by beachgoers at Strand Beach over the weekend.
It is believed that the two are friends from Delft and were swimming before being caught in rip currents.
NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following calls received by emergency services of two people in difficulty in the surf line at Strand Beach near to Strand Beach Lifesaving club.
Eye-witnesses confirmed that two youngsters were missing in the water.
NSRI rescue swimmers initiated sweeping line free dive search efforts while the NSRI rescue craft searched through the wave lines.
NSRI Gordons Bay station commander Alan Meiklejohn said: “A group of public members, 300 meters down the beachfront, came across one of the missing teenagers in shallow surf. NSRI rescue swimmers and GB Med Sec paramedics assisted in the recovery of the teenager onto the beach where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced but sadly despite CPR efforts the 16 year old male, from Delft, was declared deceased. The body of the 16 year old has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. An inquest docket has been opened by Police,” he said.
“Strand Surf Lifesaving lifeguards will keep a look out during their normal duty hours at Strand Beach. We are appealing to the public to only swim where and when lifeguards are on duty and swim in between the red and yellow flagged safe demarcated swimming zone posted by lifeguards. Our thoughts are with the family of the missing teenager in this difficult time”.
Cape Times