Archive photo of Mossel Bay. (Photo: X)
Two teenagers from Mossel Bay drowned at De Bakke beach on Saturday when they were caught in the sea currents.
The 18-year-old girl’s body was brought out of the water on Saturday afternoon and she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. However, the 15-year-old boy disappeared in the water. A body was found on Sunday morning and will now have to be identified.
Andre Fraser, the station commander of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) on Mossel Bay, says five teenagers went to the beach on Saturday. However, help was called when two of the teenagers, a boy and a girl, got caught in the sea currents late in the afternoon.
According to Fraser, a local security company called the NSRI’s help around 16:00, as well as the help of the police and emergency services.
“A local man, a good samaritan on a body board, noticed two teenagers who appeared to be caught in the currents. He was able to reach the girl, who was lifeless in the water, and was able to get her onto his body board.”
The NSRI’s rescue vessel finally reached the man in the water and the girl was lifted onto the rescue vessel and taken to the beach where paramedics began cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts.
However, the efforts were in vain and the girl was finally pronounced dead at the scene.
However, there was no sign of the boy and a large-scale search was launched. As of Saturday evening, the search had yielded nothing.
Police divers did find a body – presumably that of the boy – in the water on Sunday morning.
Fraser says the body is currently in the care of the police and the government health forensic pathology services.
“Formal identification of the body is being arranged by the police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” Fraser said on Sunday.