Terence Lawson, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty coxswain, said: At 15h02, Saturday, 20 July, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network were activated following eyewitness reports of a fisherman washed off rocks at Small Bay, Bloubergstrand.
The local coast watch community immediately initiated a visual search along that stretch of coast.
NSRI rescue swimmers, Big Bay Blouberg lifeguards, WC Government Health EMS and rescue squad, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services (SAPS), Community Medics, ER24 ambulance Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, CoCT Law Enforcement and Tableview neighbourhood watch responded.
The NSRI rescue craft Rescue 18 Alpha was launched.
An NSRI headquarters rescue craft, Spirit of Rotary, was diverted to the scene from a training exercise and assisted in a search operation.
On arrival on the scene a search commenced for an adult male fisherman who was swept off rocks by a wave while shoreline angling and he was last seen by a family member in the surf line.
SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.
A Metro EMS rescue drone unit joined in the search.
The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, returning to base from the West Coast, and SAPS WPDS, joined in the search.
Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search, no sign of the missing man has been found.
Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.
Thoughts are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time.
UPDATE:
The body of a man located at Small Bay and recovered by Police divers, from rocks on the shoreline at low tide, during the morning of Sunday, 21 July, may be that of a fisherman, an adult male, that went missing at Small Bay on Saturday after being swept off rocks while angling. However formal identification will need to be made in cooperation with Police and Forensic Pathology Services.
The body has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
NSRI Melkbosstrand, the SA Police Services, Police WPDS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Community medics, WC Government Health EMS and Table View Neighbourhood Watch attended at the scene.
Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.
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Shebeen – an unlicensed bar [sha-been] These are unlicensed bars usually found in low-income suburbs located outside of the major towns and cities, more commonly known as ‘the townships’.
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Fun South African Fact: Travel to Tsitsikamma, on the border of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape to visit the world’s highest commercial bungee jump! Those who are brave enough can take the 216-meter jump off the Bloukrans Bridge and soar through the air towards the Bloukrans River below. Definitely a must for thrill-seekers and adrenaline-junkies!