Man missing after being caught in rip currents in St Lucia

A man (22) is missing after being caught in rip currents while swimming at the beach in St Lucia on Sunday.

NSRI St Lucia station commander Jan Hoffman said At 4.43pm, Station 40 duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Jabula Beach.

ALSO READ: Father, daughters survive near-drowning in St Lucia beach

Eyewitness reports indicated that a man was caught in rip currents and two friends were in the water attempting to rescue him.

Responding to the call-out, the NSRI rescue craft JetRIB Sea Ranger was launched. NSRI rescue swimmers also responded to the scene.

“While responding to the scene, eyewitnesses reported that the two men who had tried to rescue the man had retreated to the beach,” said Hoffman.

“On arrival at the scene, the NSRI rescue craft was launched while lookouts were posted at high vantage points – including NSRI crew, Alpha Security members and members of the local Rate Payers’ Association.

“Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search during the peak of the spring high tide, there was no sign of the missing man.”

Hoffman said it appears that a group of six men from Gauteng, on a working trip to St Lucia, had gone swimming at Jabula Beach when tragedy struck.

The incident was reported to SAPS, and police search and rescue divers are tasked to continue in ongoing search efforts.

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