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Search for man missing in surf off Hobie Beach

By

Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said:

At 17h09, Wednesday, 06th September, NSRI Port Elizabeth duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth.

It was reported that 2 adult men had entered the water and after appearing to be separated from each other by currents one man had been swept towards the pier before disappearing beneath the surf.

The second man was able to get to shore.

Bystanders had attempted to rescue the man before the man disappeared beneath the surf.

The Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Specialist Water Emergency Resources were activated and NSRI Port Elizabeth launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski IV and NSRI rescue swimmers, Coastal Water Rescue (CWR) rescue swimmers, Blue Water Bay lifeguards, NMB Fire and Rescue Services, EC Government Health EMS, the NMB Beach Managers office and Municipal lifeguards, the SA Police Services (including the Humewood Section Vehicle and Local Criminal Record Centre) and Police Search and Rescue and a Police Dive Unit responded.

On arrival on the scene a Forward Control Point was established and CWR rescue swimmers, Blue Water Bay lifeguards and NMB Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers were deployed into the surf to conduct free dive box-line search efforts and spotters deployed along the shoreline conducting a visual search and search efforts were joined by a NMB Beach Managers Office Mubicipal lifeguards jet-ski and the NSRI sea rescue craft conducting a sea search.

With no sign of the missing man being found a Police Dive Unit conducted a scuba dive search but despite the extensive sea and shoreline search no sign of the missing man has been found.

The man, believed to be aged 22, is reported to be from Johannesburg and contract working in Port Elizabeth.

Police have opened an investigation and a Police Dive Unit will continue an ongoing search operation.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.