0Cathrine Prentis, NSRI East London station commander, said: At 14h30, Saturday, 18 January, NSRI East London duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Bonza Bay Beach, Beacon Bay, East London.
Our NSRI rescue craft Spirit of DHL and our NSRI rescue craft JetRib were launched.
NSRI rescue swimmers, our NSRI rescue vehicle, BCMM (Buffalo City Metroplitan Municipal) lifeguards, BCMM authorities, Priority Care ambulance services, the SA Police Services, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services), and Police K9 Search and Rescue, responded.
On arrival on the scene, approximately 100 meters down the beach from where the lifeguard protected bathing area is, to the left of Bonza Bay, towards Gonubie, NSRI, Police and the emergency services joined lifeguards who were already engaged in a search for a 31 year old male, believed to be from the Eastern Cape, who had gone missing in the surf reportedly during a baptism ritual.
It appears that the incident may have happened at around about 13h30 and it appears that fellow church members were conducting a search before the alarm was raised.
On the alarm being raised BCMM lifeguards had raced to the scene and launched a Malibu rescue board to initiate a search for the missing man and they were joined by our NSRI rescue craft, NSRI crew, Police and the emergency services.
Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing man.
Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search.
Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family, friends and the church congregation, of the missing man in this difficult time.
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