Searches intensify for drowning victims
Emergency services continue their search for three missing men at Pennington Beach on the KZN south coast following a tragic mass drowning incident on New Year’s Day that claimed three lives.
Image: File
A New Year’s Day celebration turned to tragedy at Pennington Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, with search efforts continuing yesterday for three men who were still missing following a mass drowning incident on Thursday evening.
Three fatalities have been confirmed in Pennington.
On Thursday evening a large group of people got caught in rip currents near the tidal pool.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 39 Rocky Bay, along with Police Search and Rescue, Umdoni lifeguards, and IPSS medical rescue, responded to the alarm.
“At least five people were reported to be in distress initially,” said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
He said alert lifeguards were instrumental in the initial phase, successfully managing to rescue an 18-year-old female from the water.
A 21-year-old male was declared deceased on the scene by paramedics.
The tragedy deepened later that night when, at “approximately 9.30pm on Thursday, police recovered the body of a second male, also aged 21, nearby on the beach,” Lambinon confirmed.
Search efforts were extensive and resumed at first light on Friday, extending along the coastline and out to sea when a third fatality was confirmed.
“During ongoing search efforts on Friday, an 18-year-old female was located sadly deceased on the beach at Bazley Beach,” Lambinon stated, adding that police determined that she had also gone missing from the Pennington Beach drowning accident.
According to the NSRI, three young men, all believed to be aged 21 and from KwaZulu-Natal, remain missing.
IPSS Search and Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick clarified that two of the men still missing are from the Pennington Beach incident, while the third missing man is from a separate drowning incident on Friday at Ifafa Beach in Mtwalume, not far from Pennington Beach.
NSRI said the police have opened inquest dockets for the deceased.
Lambinon said the search operations for the three remaining missing men continued by Police Search and Rescue, assisted by the NSRI and lifeguards.
Meanwhile at Thompsons Beach in Ballito search efforts continued yesterday for a 40-year-old man from Carolina, Mpumalanga, who went missing in the surf on Friday morning.
In a separate incident, on Friday, NSRI Rocky Bay and multiple services responded to a drowning report in Umkomaas. A 16-year-old male, who was caught in a strong rip current with his 21-year-old brother, was rescued by a Good Samaritan.
The 21-year-old, from Dlangezwa, in KwaZulu-Natal, remains missing despite extensive search efforts. Police Search and Rescue continue the search.
NSRI in Gqeberha is also searching for a 23-year-old man who went missing after being caught in rip currents at Blue Water Bay on Friday.
The man was swimming with his 19-year-old sister when they were caught in the currents, according to Simon Williams, NSRI Gqeberha deputy station commander.
“A local fisherman managed to grab hold of the female and pull her to safety,” Williams said.
He said the teenager was not injured, and despite an extensive sea and shoreline search, there remain no signs of the missing man.
Police Search and Rescue, assisted by Blue Water Bay lifeguards, are continuing the search.
The NSRI has urged beachgoers to exercise caution during the full moon spring tide, which peaks tomorrow as it will affect tidal conditions over this weekend.
Lambinon said this natural phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align during the full moon phase, amplifying the gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans.
“The effects of this full moon spring tide will be felt throughout this weekend and for the next few days, and the NSRI is asking beach visitors, rock and surf anglers, and people who intend to walk on coastal paths to be aware of the stronger tidal variation typical of spring tides.”