On Wednesday, 01 January, at 14h33, NSRI Port Elizabeth and Police, including a Police Dive Unit, responded to the Swartkops River where it was reported that a child had disappeared under water after being caught in the river currents.
NSRI Port Elizabeth launched a sea rescue craft 2 km downstream from the incident, which had occurred 5km upstream, of the Swartkops River Mouth and Police divers were escorted to the scene aboard the sea rescue craft where a search commenced for a 12 year old local male.
Lifeguards, Coastal Rescue joined in the search and an NSRI Quad Bike and NSRI 4×4 rescue vehicle were used to search downstream.
Despite an extensive search no sign of the child has been found and Police will continue to search.
Police have opened an investigation into the incident.
It appears that the child was with family at the river when the child was caught in the river flow and swept down river. Family tried desperately to rescue the child including forming a human chain into the river to try to grab hold of the child being swept away but after these efforts failed the child disappeared under the water.
Later in the day, 01 January, NSRI Port Elizabeth responded back to the scene where it was suspected a body could be seen floating in the water but the object was found to be a tree log.
On returning to base from that call the crew aboard the NSRI sea rescue vehicle came across a man lying in the middle of the N2 Freeway.
NSRI volunteers set up a safety cordon around the man to prevent him from being run over by passing cars and the Police were summoned.
NSRI volunteers carried the man to the shoulder of the road on a trauma board and on their arrival Police took over the care of the man taking him away to a place of safety.
It appears that the man had passed out on the road following New Years eve celebrations.
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