Search intensifies for missing Newcastle swimmer at Thompson's Bay in Ballito

A 39-YEAR-OLD man from Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, is feared to have drowned while swimming at Thompson's Bay in Ballito earlier today. Tragically, he was visiting Durban to attend a family wedding when the incident occurred at about 5.30am.

The man was swimming alongside his uncle when they encountered difficulties and were swept out to sea. Fortunately, his uncle was rescued by a nearby fisherman, but efforts to locate the missing man have so far been unsuccessful.

Samantha Meyrick, IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, said jet skis and drones were deployed as part of the search effort that involved KwaDukuza lifeguards and IPSS Search and Rescue teams.

“The missing swimmer is described as an Indian male who was visiting the area with his family from Newcastle. Despite ongoing search efforts from both the water and air, the swimmer has not yet been located. Authorities have urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution when entering the ocean, especially during the early morning hours as the conditions can be unpredictable,” said Meyrick.

She said there were false alerts on social media that the man’s body had washed up at around midday.

“We are aware of reports that the body of a man who drowned at Thompson's Bay on Friday morning had been recovered. This information is false. The search is ongoing. We urge the community not to share false information. This is harmful to search efforts, friends and family.

“We believe there may have been confusion about the body that was found washed ashore last night by Pennington, on the south coast. The teams are still searching for the man missing from Thompsons Bay."

South Beach

In a separate incident on New Years Day, a 22-year-old man from the Eastern Cape, had reportedly gone missing in the surf zone at South Beach in Durban.

Etienne van Zyl, Durban Station Commander for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), said the NSRI team were conducting routine training at sea when they were called out to assist SAPS Search and Rescue to assist at South Beach. 

At that time, police search and rescue, metro police coastal and tourism unit, and eThekwini lifeguards were searching for the man.

Van Zyl said a police helicopter joined the search, but despite extensive air, sea, and shoreline searches, the man remained missing.

Rip current claims two lives, two missing 

On New Year's Day at around 6.30pm, six people, who were swimming in the surf zone at Pennington Beach, near the tidal pool on the KZN South Coast, were swept out to sea in a rip current.

NSRI Rocky Bay rescue swimmers, police search and rescue and IPSS medical rescue responded to join lifeguards, who had launched into the surf in an effort to rescue those in distress.

According to the NSRI, the lifeguards rescued two people. Two others have died and two are still missing.

THE POST