UPDATE: Search for missing teen at Blythedale beach suspended again

Emergency services were back at Blythedale beach this morning searching for a 16-year-old boy who went missing yesterday .

Due to rough seas the search was withdrawn at around midday today and will resume tomorrow.

The young boy from Gledhow was reportedly at the beach with his two friends when he got into difficulty and was swept away from the shore at around 5pm.

An off-duty SAPS member who was at the beach at the time noticed the swimmer in difficulty and contacted IPSS Medical Rescue, as well as KDM Fire and Rescue.

Also read: Fire department crisis across KwaDukuza

Although Blythedale beach is monitored by lifeguards daily, at the time of the incident lifeguards had already closed the beach for the day and the necessary warning flags were displayed to indicate that lifeguards were off duty.

“We were fighting against the light so at around 6.15pm we suspended the search,” said Lifeguard Supervisor Bongani Xulu.

IPSS medical rescue together with KwaDukuza lifeguards and police search and rescue launched four vessels first thing this morning in an attempt to locate the missing boy.

“Beach patrols were also conducted by the IPSS rescue vehicles,” said Paul Herbst of IPSS Medical Rescue.

“Three jet skis were launched and searches took place from the northern side to the southern side of the beach, so far with negative results.”

A drone was also used but with no results so far.

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