Several media reports published over the past week incorrectly identified the man who drowned at Thompson’s Bay, Ballito, last Friday as a Newcastle resident.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) media spokesperson Craig Lambinon confirmed with the Newcastle Advertiser that he deceased, Mohammed Zaheer, was in fact from Carolina in Mpumalanga.

He said the confusion likely stemmed from Zaheer’s attendance at a wedding in Newcastle before travelling to Ballito for a holiday.

Zaheer went missing during an early-morning swim with his 13-year-old nephew after they were caught in rip currents.

A Good Samaritan managed to rescue the teenager, who was unharmed, but Zaheer disappeared beneath the surface.

NSRI Ballito, the KwaZulu-Natal Surf Rescue Network, IPSS Search and Rescue, SAPS and KwaDukuza Municipality lifeguards launched an extensive sea and shoreline search involving rescue swimmers, a JetRIB, jet skis and free-dive sweep operations.

Despite the extensive search effort, Zaheer was later confirmed to have drowned. Family members who were present at the scene confirmed that he lived in Carolina.

The Newcastle Advertiser wishes to extend its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Zaheer during this difficult time.

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel