The search and rescue operation to find a mother and her two-year-old baby had a sad end when their bodies were found in the Umvoti River in KwaZulu-Natal last night.

The pair were found 3km downriver in the Groutville area. The mother and her baby were spotted by fishermen alongside the river.

The mother attempted to cross the strong-flowing river earlier that day when she and her baby were washed away.

Other community members, who were also crossing the river and witnessed the incident, alerted the authorities.

A search and rescue operation was launched, but was called off last night. Some time later a gill netter discovered the bodies of the mother and her baby still strapped to her back.