Stilbaai: Fatal Drowning

Stéfan Grové, NSRI Stilbaai station commander, said:

At 15h51, Sunday, 8 December, NSRI Stilbaai duty crew were activated following reports from the SA Police Services of a drowning in progress in the Goukou River, near to the Goukou River Mouth, Stilbaai – Cape South Coast.

Police were responding to the scene.
NSRI rescue swimmers responded while the NSRI rescue craft JetRib was launched.

On arrival on the scene NSRI joined Police searching for a (believed to be) local man, believed to be aged in his early 50’s, who had gone missing in the river reportedly while attempting to cross the river.

It was reported that he had been swept down river and had disappeared while crossing through the river.

During shoreline search efforts eyewitnesses on the scene reported having last seen the man being swept out of the river mouth and into the sea.

Our NSRI rescue craft JetRib commenced sweeping line search efforts beyond the river mouth and on the first sweeping search effort the man was located and recovered from the water, sadly deceased.

The body of the man was brought to the NSRI Stilbaai station 31 rescue base where WC Government Health EMS and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services attended.

The body of the man has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased man.