Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said; “At 12h10 on Sunday 25 March, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports from EC Government Health: EMS of a multiple drowning incident in progress at Bluewater Bay Beach, between the Swartkops River mouth and Nqura harbour, Port Elizabeth.
“Our NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched 3 of our sea rescue craft and our sea rescue vehicle responded.
“Bluewater Bay lifeguards, Coastal Rescue, WC Government Health: EMS, an EMS helicopter, The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal Beach Managers Office and the SA Police Force responded.
“On arrival on-scene it was estimated that at least 21 people had been swept out to sea by rip-currents. Most of those swept out to sea were believed to be members of the local Motherwell Rugby Club.
“1 person, recovered from the surf by Bluewater Bay LSC lifeguards, was declared dead. 5 persons remain missing and they are presumed to have drowned.
“An extensive search, by 3 NSRI sea rescue craft, a Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Beach Managers office rescue rubber-duck and rescue jet-ski, a Bluewater Bay LSC rescue rubber-duck, the EMS helicopter, and Bluewater Bay LSC lifeguards free swimming revealed no sign of the 5 missing men, all believed to be aged in their early 20’s and all 5 missing are believed to be members of the Motherwell Rugby Club.”
Fernando Cain, of The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Beach Managers office, said that of the 15 people people rescued a few were youngsters not associated with the Motherwell Rugby Club and the remaining rescued, including the one deceased, were all members of The Motherwell Rugby Club.
7 Bluewater Bay Life Saving Club lifeguards, 5, who were at the beach at the time of the incident, and 2 who had run to the scene from their duty post further along the coast, had swum after the 21 people swept out to sea by rip-currents. Some of the lifeguards had rescued up to 3 people at a time. Of the 15 people rescued none were required to go to hospital although some were treated for shock and near drowning symptoms on the beach by paramedics.
The body of the deceased has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
Lifeguards and Police remain on-scene continuing with an ongoing search for the 5 missing men and a Police Dive Unit will continue the search today with a Police K-9 dog unit.
The beach was closed to swimming at 14h00 by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Beach Managers Office as very strong rip currents prevailed at the beach.
It is believed that all 21 people swept out to sea were caught in strong rip currents.
Members of Motherwell Rugby Club and their families were in the thoughts and prayers of the South African Rugby Union (SARU), Mr Oregan Hoskins, the president of SARU said on Sunday; “I have spoken to the president of Eastern Province Kings rugby union and members of the community today and this is a devastating tragedy,” said Mr Hoskins.
“These young men were preparing to compete in a SARU Easter Tournament in Cape Town in a fortnight and were enjoying a carefree day on the beach with their team-mates.
“To have their afternoon turned into a day of tragedy is shocking for the whole rugby community and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families.”
An SA Air Force 15 Squadron – Charlie Flight helicopter, carrying two NSRI Port Elizabeth rescue swimmers, joined Bluewater Bay LSC lifeguards, a Police Dive Unit and a Police K-9 search dog at first light this morning in an ongoing search operation for five members of the local Motherwell Rugby Football Club who went missing after being swept out to sea yesterday at Bluewater Bay Beach, Port Elizabeth.
Alan Straton
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Shocked,…. We are hosting the Easter Rugby Tournament in Cape Town and will definitely miss them.