[AUDIO+INFOGRAPHIC]: Joburg man missing at sea

The body of a 20-year-old Joburg man who went missing during the evening of Reconcilliation Day (16 December) in Jeffreys Bay, in the Eastern Cape are yet to be found.

Craig Lambinon, the national spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa (NSRI) told the news that there are as of yet no traces of Tevin Wilson from Eden Park, Alberton who went swimming at the holiday destination’s Main Beach at about 6.30pm.

“Police is currently busy with an ongoing search operation, which is currently in their hands,” he said.

“The NSRI are down there daily (at the Main Beach). We have deployed lifeguards as well.”

Lambinon said that there are lots of holiday goers at the beach at the moment and if something do washes up it will be spotted quickly and then authorities will be alerted.

According to a press statement the NSRI Jeffreys Bay launched the sea rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II. Several emergency services including the police and a local South African Airways pilot who volunteered his private fixed wing aircraft responded.

On arrival on the scene it took some time before rescuers were able to determine where the incident had happened, who was involved and what had happened, causing a critical delay in the search and rescue operation.

After clarity on the situation it could be established that a search has commenced for Wilson who reportedly disappeared under water after getting caught in rip currents while swimming.

“A surfer had gone to his rescue but the man had disappeared under the water before the surefer cvould reach him,” said Lambinon.

“Despite an extensive search no sign of the man has been found an at midnight (on 16 December) NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew conducted further beach shoreline searces.”

Police trauma counsellors assisted the family of the missing man. Police have opened an investigation into the incident.

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