Mike Bishop, NSRI Ballito station commander, said: At 08h00, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Ballito duty crew were activated following reports from IPSS Medical Rescue of a drowning in progress at Salmon Bay.
The alarm had been raised by a member of IPSS Medical Rescue who had been nearby at the time and who had witnessed a man in distress appearing to be caught in rip currents near to the Salmon Bay launch site.
NSRI Ballito rescue swimmers, the SA Police Service, Police Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, IPSS Medical Rescue and Kwadakuza lifeguards responded.
It was determined that a man, we believe age 35, was caught in rip currents near to the Salmon Bay launch site, at an area that is not protected by duty lifeguards, when his brother-in-law had launched into the water to try to help but the man had disappeared under water before the brother-in-law could reach him. They are from Witbank, Mpumalanga.
The brother-in-law sustained injuries while attempting to assist and he was medically treated on the scene by paramedics for cuts and bruises and he required no further medical care.
NSRI Ballito launched our rescue craft jet-ski and an NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed into the surf zone in extensive search efforts for the 35 year old missing man.
Despite extensive sea and shoreline search efforts there remains no signs of the missing man.
Police have opened an investigation.
Police Search and Rescue, assisted by Kwadakuza lifeguards and by Metro Police Search and Rescue, are continuing in ongoing search efforts.
Thoughts and care are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time.
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