Nicolette Whitehead, NSRI Strandfontein station commander, said: Just after 13h00, Saturday, 26 August, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) were alerted by CoCT (City of Cape Town) Law Enforcement control of a drowning in progress at the Groot Wolfgat Beach, between Monwabisi and Mnandi on the False Bay coast.
Law Enforcement officers had been on a patrol in the area of Wolfgat Nature Reserve shortly before the incident occurred and they had moved on to patrol at Monwabisi when public members arrived at Monwabisi to alert Law Enforcement officers of a drowning in progress at Groot Wolfgat Beach and the alarm was raised.
NSRI Strandfontein and the CoCT water rescue network was activated.
NSRI Strandfontein duty crew were at the NSRI Strandfontein rescue station conducting routine maintenance where the NSRI rescue craft Grand West CSI and Rescue 16 Alpha were launched.
NSRI Strandfontein rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded and joined Law Enforcement officers on the scene.
EMS Metro Control activated the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter.
Police Control alerted the SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services (SAPS WPDS).
It appears that at approximately 12h30 4 local male friends, 2 of them aged 31, a 29 year old and a 35 year old, from Mandalay, were swimming when on exiting the water 3 of the friends noticed that their 35 year old friend had not come out of the water with them. They initiated a search when they noticed their friend floating in the water appearing to be lifeless.
They had tried to reach their friend in the breaking surf line but unable to reach him they returned to the beach and summoned public members on the beach to help them to raise the alarm.
On arrival on the scene an extensive search commenced for the missing man.
Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search there remains no sign of the missing man.
Police divers attended at the scene and they are continuing in an ongoing search operation.
Thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time.
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