NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated at 18h37 on Tuesday 27 December, following eye-witness reports from an Alberton family at a restaurant on Marine Drive, in the vicinity of Humewood, claiming to have seen what they suspected to have been a person (possibly a body) floating in the sea about 400 meters off-shore.
NSRI launched the sea rescue craft BOARDWALK RESCUER and Police and Coastal Rescue assisted with a shore search. As night fell NSRI launched the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF TOFT to join in the search but no sign of any person (or body) could be found and no reports of any person missing or overdue was reported.
Earlier in the day a buoy had been seen floating in the area but it is not confirmed what the Alberton family, a mother and her two daughters, had seen.
The search was called off at 20h45 and while it is suspected to have been a false alarm with good intentions NSRI and Police will continue to monitor the situation.
