A man believed to be a drug dealer escaped arrest last night by swimming from Clarke Bay to Zimbali beach.

Umhlali police spokesperson Vinny Pillay said the police were conducting roadblocks around the precinct. 

“As soon as he saw police vehicles stopping, he started running towards the sea.

“He continue swimming until he came out at Zimbali and ran away, “ said Pillay.

He said police, together with security companies, KwaDukuza crime prevention, CPF and the youth desk had been operating the roadblocks. 

Paul Herbst from Medi Response KZN, said rescue swimmers entered the water in a bid to bring the man back to shore.

“The man was wholly uncooperative and refused to return to shore.

“He was a strong swimmer as he was seemingly capable in his attempts.

“Equally he was aggressive in warding off his would be rescuers with attempts made to push and hold one of rescuers under water.”

The rescuers abandoned their efforts to coax the man to shore, when it became too dangerous to continue.