A young man (23) remains missing following a suspected drowning incident at Sodwana Bay main beach earlier this week.

According to Melinda Snyman, NSRI St Lucia station commander, the incident was reported at about 6.30pm on Tuesday when NSRI St Lucia was alerted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife authorities to a drowning in progress at Sodwana Bay.

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Although already off scheduled duty for the day, iSimangaliso lifeguards returned to the beach and immediately initiated a search for the missing man.

Off-duty NSRI St Lucia members who were scuba diving in the area at the time also responded.

They joined iSimangaliso lifeguards in a coordinated search operation in the surf zone for the local man, who is believed to have been caught in rip currents while swimming.

Ezemvelo rangers launched their vessel to assist in the search efforts.

Despite extensive and coordinated sea and shoreline searches conducted by iSimangaliso lifeguards, NSRI St Lucia crew and Ezemvelo rangers, there has been no sign of the missing man.

The SAPS was alerted, and police Search and Rescue, assisted by iSimangaliso lifeguards and Ezemvelo rangers, are continuing with ongoing search operations.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that two bodies washed up ashore at the beach in St Lucia on Wednesday. The identities have not been released.

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