A 17 year-old-boy was reportedly taken by a strong rip current in Richards Bay.
Madlanzini resident, Nondumiso Mlambo, is suspected to have been carried away by the strong rip current at a beach near Mzingazi on Sunday.
It was reported by the National Sea Rescue Institute in Richards Bay that their rescue personnel responded to an emergency five nautical miles North of Richards Bay, near Mzingazi, where a man was reported missing.
His friends believe that he was swept out to sea by rip currents as he was last seen swimming.
NSRI Richards Bay and SA National Parks rangers searched extensively but there has been no sign of the man.
Mzingazi Community Policing Forum member Sharon Mdletshe confirmed the boy was visiting the beach at Mzingazi for the day with friends. He attends high school at Mandlanzini.
In a second incident over the same weekend, NSRI Richards Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were alerted to reports of a 27 year old local man missing in the sea after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip currents at Alkandstrand, before disappearing under water.
‘Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched two sea rescue crafts, the Transnet National Ports authority helicopter joined the search as well as an NSRI mobile unit. The SA National Parks rangers and the SA Police Services also responded,’ said Cornel du Toit (NSRI Richards Bay Station Commander).
On arrival at the scene an extensive sea, air and shore search revealed no sign of the man who reportedly disappeared under water as early as 6.15 am on Saturday.
Police are investigating and assisting the family of the missing man while an ongoing search operation continues.
