A KHAYELITSHA teenager drowned at Monwabisi Beach yesterday after going missing in the surf.
The 17-year-old was at the beach with his brother when he disappeared under the waves.
The alarm was raised and the NSRI rescue swimmers, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and a CT Fire and Rescue Services diving unit, the Western Cape Health EMS, the SAPS, Law Enforcement, Metro Police, a Police Dive Unit and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded.
When the NSRI was alerted to a drowning in progress, the Sea Rescue craft Discovery Rescue Runner was launched, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.
On arrival on the scene a search commenced, said Lambinon.
During the search the body of a male was spotted in the surf, recovered and brought on to the beach, where paramedics conducted CPR.
Lambinon said after all efforts to resuscitate the teenager were exhausted, he was declared dead.
He said police have opened an inquest docket and the family was receiving trauma counselling.
In a separate incident, the NSRI went to assist four people from Mitchells Plain on board a rubber duck after their craft’s battery failed while they were out at sea.
And in another incident, this time in Hermanus, a sailor reported motor mechanical failure on his 4.7m rubber duck offshore of De Kelders and had to be towed to Gansbaai.
On Saturday in Witsand, a pensioner reported that he was on a 6m inflatable boat with his son-in-law and grandchild when the craft beached on a sandbank in the river.