At 15h38 on 4 Januery 2012, NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of 4 people being swept out to sea at Natures Valley, near to the Groot River Mouth.
NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched their sea rescue craft AIRLINK RESCUER and their DISCOVERY rescue runner and responded and Police and Metro EMS responded.
“On arrival on-scene it was confirmed by lifeguards that three men, aged in their early twenties, from Strand, had managed to get out of the water after reportedly getting into difficulty in strong rip-currents and they were not injured. The fourth man, their friend, a 22 year old from Strand, had disappeared under water.
An extensive search is ongoing and the Metro EMS Skymed helicopter has joined in the search but no sign of the missing man has been found and the Police Dive Unit have been informed.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
While rescuers were on the scene a further three people were helped out of the water in the same area in separate incidents after getting into difficulties and lifeguards are cautioning bathers not to swim at the beach at Natures Valley.
The Metro EMS Skymed helicopter had earlier assisted at Noetzie Beach, near Knysna, where a British man and his two children had been rescued by lifeguards, after reportedly being swept out to sea, before being transported to hospital. NSRI believe they were in stable conditions. NSRI have no further details on that incident.
[wpramazon asin=”1242958967”]
