- The search continues for two men who went missing while swimming on Saturday afternoon.
- The men are said to have gone missing in two separate incidents – in the Gouritz River, and at Doringbaai.
- Police dive unit members are leading the operation.
Rescue personnel are searching for two men who went missing while swimming in the Gouritz River and Doringbaai on Saturday.
A search is under way for a 40-year-old Mossel Bay man who disappeared underwater while swimming on Saturday afternoon.
André Fraser, NSRI Mossel Bay station commander, said a duty crew was activated at 17:32 following reports of a drowning in progress on the Gouritz River.
He said:
Upon arrival, 10km along the Gouritz River from the
N2, a search was launched for the man.
"Two bystanders had entered the water to try to assist. One of the bystanders was treated by EMS paramedics for non-fatal drowning symptoms sustained during efforts to try to find the man underwater," said Fraser.
"Despite an extensive search, including our sea rescue craft that was launched, and a search along the banks of the river, there remains no sign of the missing man."
A police dive unit was continuing the search, and the man’s wife and their four-year-old child were in the care of officers.
Jumped 'off a pier'
Meanwhile on the West Coast, NSRI Lamberts Bay station manager Matthys Koch said a crew responded following police reports of a 37-year-old man missing in Doringbaai harbour.
Eyewitnesses reported that they had seen the man holding onto the anchor chain, and appearing to rest, before disappearing under the water.
He said:
After an extensive search, there was still no sign
of the man.
"A police dive unit has been alerted and will continue in an ongoing search," said Koch.
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