One Teenager Remains Missing

Linda Putter, NSRI Rocky Bay deputy station commander, said:

At 13h15, Wednesday, 20 November, NSRI Rocky Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Pennington Beach, KZN South Coast.

NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) had received the initial emergency call from an eyewitness and NSRI duty controllers at NSRI Rocky Bay received additional calls from Gladiator Security and from local security.

The KZN Surf Rescue Network was activated and NSRI rescue swimmers, Umdoni lifeguards, IPSS Medical Rescue, IPSS Search and Rescue, local security officers, the SA Police Services and Police K9 Search and Rescue responded.

On arrival on the scene it was established that 4 (believed to be local teenagers) boys were swimming when they were swept out to sea in rip currents.

A 16 year old local male Good Samaritan, Keegan Lowe, who had been at the beach with his sister and friends, had entered the water, wearing one body boarding (diving) fin, and he had managed to rescue 2 teenage boys together, who he had reached in the mid surf break.

After getting the first 2 boys safely to the beach the Good Samaritan Keegan then grabbed a yellow rescue torpedo buoy (that is stationed at the beach) and he re-entered the water, still wearing the diving fin, and armed with the rescue torpedo buoy, to go after the other 2 boys who were in distress beyond the mid surf break.

Good Samaritan Keegan reached one of the male teenagers, beyond the mid surf break, but he could not locate the fourth boy. He was able to bring that third teenager out of the water safely to the beach.

Keegan tried to locate the fourth teenager but by that stage sight of the casualty had been lost in the outer surf line.

The 3 survivors were medically evaluated by paramedics and they required no medical care.

Umdoni lifeguards had entered the water to search for the missing teenager, with shoreline search efforts being conducted by NSRI, IPSS, security officers and Police, but there remains no signs of the missing teenager.

Police K9 Search and Rescue are continuing in an ongoing search for the missing boy.

Sea conditions were rough in strong North Easterly winds.

Thoughts, care and compassion are with the family and friends of the missing male teenager.

Good Samaritan Keegan Lowe, who rescued the 3 boys, is commended for his efforts that saved the lives of the 3 boys.