Pennington beach update: 3 dead, 3 missing, 1 rescued

Search efforts continued at first light yesterday (Friday, January 2) for the people still missing in the mass drowning incident off Pennington beach in the late evening on New Year’s Day.

NSRI Rocky Bay, police search and rescue, Saps, and Umdoni lifeguards resumed the extensive search for what was believed to be two men who remained missing.

The ongoing search extended along the coastline and out to sea.

NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said that during the search on Friday it was determined that there are in fact three men, all believed to be aged 21, still missing.

Then, during the search yesterday, an 18-year-old woman was found dead at Bazley Beach.

It was determined by police that the woman was among those who had gone missing off Pennington Beach.

TO RECAP:

– One female teenager (18) was rescued on the evening of January 1, not injured.

– One man (21) was found dead during the initial search operation on the evening of January 1.

– One man (21) found dead later by police on the beach near Pennington on January 1 at 21:30.

– One woman (18) washed up dead at Bazley Beach on the morning of January 2.

– Three men, all believed to be aged 21, are still missing, presumed drowned.

According to NSRI, the group got into distress in the surf zone near the tidal pool at Pennington beach.

It is believed that all involved are from KZN.

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