It was a dark weekend for Zululand after three people drowned at various locations between Thursday and Sunday, reports the Zululand Observer.

A 28-year-old man drowned in the Bay Hall area in Richards Bay on Sunday morning (October 4).

Bystanders retrieved the man from the water and emergency services, including MedCare 24 paramedics, City of uMhlathuze lifeguards and National Sea Rescue Institute Station 19 duty crew, attempted to resuscitate him.

He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Rescue operation at Cape Vidal

On Saturday afternoon (October 3), two teenage boys, aged 14 and 16, got into difficulty in a rip current while swimming at Cape Vidal.

According to NSRI Station 40 St Lucia, the 14-year-old was rescued by a bystander holidaying from Benoni who had witnessed the incident.

“Upon arrival, NSRI St Lucia duty crew launched the rescue craft and conducted extensive search efforts in and beyond the surf zone for the 16-year-old who disappeared in the surf zone.

“Despite extensive sea and shoreline search efforts, there are no signs of the missing teenager,” said NSRI St Lucia station commander Melinda Snyman on Sunday.

“NSRI medics attended to the 14-year-old on the beach. He was treated on the scene for non-fatal drowning symptoms and handed into the care of SISILA EMS paramedics, who transported him to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition. He is expected to make a full recovery.”

Police Search and Rescue’s Water Policing and Diving Service (WPDS), assisted by iSimangaliso Wetland Park rangers, is continuing the search for the missing teen.

A police investigation is under way.

Search under way at Mtunzini

Meanwhile, the search continues for a 19-year-old man who went missing while swimming at Mtunzini Main Beach on Thursday (October 1).

Richards Bay NSRI station commander Norman Rautenbach said the duty crew was activated following reports of the drowning.

“On arrival at the scene, we found local community members, friends and family, and local boaters using a private aerial drone, a rigid-hull inflatable boat and a jet-ski, searching for the 19-year-old from the Eastern Cape, who had gone missing in the surf zone while swimming,” said Rautenbach.

He said it appeared the man was swimming with his girlfriend. When she got out of the water, she noticed he was in difficulty, appearing to be caught in rip currents before disappearing in the surf zone.

“An extensive air, sea and shoreline search has [to date] revealed no signs of the missing teenager,” added Rautenbach.

SAPS K9 Search and Rescue is continuing the search.

The bodies of two teenagers who drowned in the Tugela River over the weekend were recovered yesterday (October 5).

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