Tragic drowning of two teenagers at De Bakke Beach in Mossel Bay
The NSRI said two teenagers are dead after being swept away by Rip currents at De Bakke beach in Mossel Bay.
Image: Supplied
A community is in mourning following the tragic drowning of two local teenagers at De Bakke Beach in Mossel Bay this weekend. Despite a heroic rescue attempt by a member of the public and a massive multi-agency search operation, an 18-year-old girl's body was recovered as well as that of a 15-year-old boy.
The alarm was raised at 16:00 on Saturday, 25 April, when a local security company reported a drowning in progress. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay duty crew, alongside SAPS, Relay ambulance services, and Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue, rushed to the scene.
As emergency services mobilised, a local Good Samaritan on a bodyboard spotted the two teenagers struggling in the surf, apparently caught in a powerful rip current. With selfless bravery, he managed to reach the 18-year-old female, who was already unresponsive in the water. He successfully pulled her onto his board and held her until the NSRI rescue craft, St Blaise Rescuer, arrived. She was brought to the shore, where paramedics immediately commenced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Despite their exhaustive efforts to revive her, she was tragically declared deceased at the scene.
While paramedics fought to save the young woman, a secondary, intensive search was launched for her 15-year-old companion. The operation utilised cutting-edge technology, including a thermal drone from the Mossel Bay Helicopter Company and two private drones, to scan the surf zone from the air. NSRI rescue swimmers and the St Blaise Rescuer battled the conditions into the night, supported by Police divers from the Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS). However, as darkness fell, there was still no sign of the boy.
The search resumed at first light on Sunday morning. Tragically, the efforts concluded when Police divers located and recovered a body in the search area at De Bakke Beach. While formal identification is still being arranged by Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, the body is believed to be that of the missing 15-year-old.
It appears that a group of five youngsters were at the beach when the two teenagers were caught in rip currents while swimming, as stated by an NSRI spokesperson.The families and friends of the two victims are currently under the care of the police. SAPS has officially opened an inquest docket to investigate the incident further.
This tragedy serves as a harrowing reminder of the deceptive power of the ocean. Rip currents—powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water—can catch even the strongest swimmers off guard, pulling them away from the shore in seconds. The NSRI and local authorities have extended their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the two teenagers whose lives were cut so short.