A SEARCH party was initiated in Sodwana Bay yesterday (Friday) when three men were reported missing after having gone out on their 19ft ski-boat earlier in the day.

Sodwana Bay-based conservation authorities, both iSimangaliso and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, as well as My Lady Charters and Coral Dive Charters launched the search after family members of the three Centurion holidaymakers raised the alarm.

Both shoreline and boat-based searches were conducted.

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The men were later found safe and unharmed, walking along the beach back to Sodwana Bay.

According to Richards Bay NSRI Station 19, the boat capsized at about 10.30am, 3km offshore of Diepgat.

The men drifted on the vessel’s upturned hull, but after realising they were drifting further out to sea, they swam ashore.

‘With life jackets on, the men left their boat and swam for over three hours until they reached shore,’ said the NSRI.

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‘They then started walking northwards along the beach before being discovered by the search party in the vicinity of Mseni Lodge.’

The boat remains capsized and adrift at sea, and NSRI Richards Bay has been alerted, as have all sea users in the area, to be on the lookout.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park staff will search the shoreline over the next few days.