Tragic drowning incidents in Western Cape leave one dead and a teenager missing

A deadly weekend on Western Cape waters has left at least one man dead, a teenage boy missing and multiple large-scale rescue operations underway, after a series of drowning incidents stretched from the Atlantic Seaboard to inland dams and lagoons.

Rescue teams from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), police and emergency services were mobilised across Cape Town and the Overstrand as reports of people in distress triggered extensive air, sea and shoreline searches.

At 4.38pm on Sunday, NSRI Bakoven and the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Cosy Bay, Oudekraal, between Bakoven and Llandudno.

NSRI Bakoven station commander Bevan Geyser said eyewitnesses reported that an unidentified man entered the water before appearing to get into difficulties.

“On arrival on the scene NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water conducting free-dive search efforts for an unidentified male reported by eyewitnesses to have entered the water and who appeared to get into difficulties before disappearing under water,” Geyser said.

He said rescue swimmers from NSRI Bakoven, Hout Bay and Table Bay were deployed, along with rescue craft, City lifeguards, emergency medical services, a drone unit and police.

“Despite the extensive air, sea and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing man,” Geyser said, adding that police divers and sea borderline control would continue search efforts. Police are investigating.

Earlier on Sunday, a 20-year-old man from Plumstead drowned at De Villiers Dam near Constantia Nek.

NSRI Hout Bay coxswain Chris Westcott said emergency services were alerted shortly before 1pm following reports of a drowning in progress.

“On arrival on the scene NSRI rescue swimmers initiated a search in De Villiers Dam for a 20-year-old male, from Plumstead, who friends on the scene indicated where he had gone missing in the dam reportedly while swimming in shallow water,” Westcott said.

He said police divers later took over the search and recovered the man’s body from underwater.

“Sadly the man was declared deceased by paramedics,” Westcott said. An inquest docket has been opened.

In the Overstrand, search efforts are continuing for a 16-year-old boy from Caledon who went missing while swimming at Palmiet Lagoon near Kleinmond on Saturday.

NSRI Kleinmond coxswain Michael Markovina said rescue teams were activated shortly after midday on Saturday following reports of a drowning in progress.

“On arrival on the scene search efforts commenced for a male teenager, age 16, from Caledon, who had gone missing in the water while swimming,” Markovina said.

Despite extensive search efforts over the weekend, including free-dive, scuba and surface searches supported by rescue craft and drone units, no sign of the teenager has been found. Police water policing and diving services are continuing with the operation.

In a separate incident at Draadbaai, Betty’s Bay, police are appealing for information after an eyewitness reported that two men may have been swept off rocks by waves on Saturday afternoon. An extensive sea, air and shoreline search revealed no signs of anyone in distress, and no related missing persons report has been filed.

Condolences were conveyed to the families and friends of those affected, as authorities urged the public to exercise extreme caution around coastal and inland waters, particularly during summer when conditions can change rapidly.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus