At least three people have drowned at beaches on South Africa’s East Coast on Saturday.

The North Coast Courier reported on two cases in which a 25-year-old man and 16-year-old boy died in separate drowning incidents.

At Westbrook main beach near Ballito, the 25-year-old man drowned while swimming in the ocean at around 4 pm.

Nazir Sadack, the team leader for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), reported that despite prompt efforts from Ethekweni Lifeguards, the man vanished beneath the waves due to strong currents and rough conditions.

The search for the deceased has been halted for the day and is expected to resume tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, in another incident at Christmas Bay in Sheffield, the 16-year-old boy from Tongaat drowned while enjoying the beach with his aunt and uncle.

Christmas Bay is not a designated swimming beach.

According to Samantha Meyrick of IPSS Search and Rescue, the boy encountered difficulties while swimming and disappeared beneath the water.

KwaDukuza lifeguards initiated a search operation, deploying watercraft alongside IPSS Search and Rescue personnel to find the missing teen, without success.

The search will continue today.

The third incident happened at Inyoni Rocks in Amanzimtoti, reports the South Coast Sun.

Local ward councillor André Beetge said despite extensive efforts from both lifeguards and life support personnel, a 35-year-old man was declared deceased after drowning at Amanzimtoti’s Inyoni Rocks pool.

“Unprecedented numbers took advantage of the excellent weather to visit beaches in the wake of rain over the past two weekends. Although expected, massive overcrowding also resulted in several challenges, with patrons refusing to heed safety warnings and lifeguard instructions,” he said.

Beetge also expressed his sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased.

In another incident, lifeguards succeeded in rescuing a man at Baggies Beach after he was swept off the rocks by a wave.

Beetge said he was transported to a local hospital where a laceration to his leg was treated before being discharged.

“Patrons to beaches are, again, reminded that alcohol is not allowed, lifeguard instructions are to be heeded at all times and swimming should only be done at designated swimming beaches and then only between the demarcated flags,” he said.