A heartbreaking discovery has been made in the tragic double drowning incident that occurred along the Garden Route.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) confirmed on Wednesday that the second body has been located and positively identified.
What Led to the Tragedy?
The distressing event unfolded on Saturday, August 31, when a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy went missing while swimming at Victoria Bay.
Both were caught in powerful rip currents, leading to their disappearance.
Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness station commander, provided details on the rescue efforts.
At 5:55 PM on that Saturday, the NSRI Wilderness duty crew was alerted by South African Police Services (SAPS) after receiving reports of two swimmers in distress.
Rescue swimmers from NSRI immediately rushed to the scene, while a rescue boat, the Ann Stratford, was launched from the NSRI Wilderness station.
Efforts to Rescue the Swimmers
Multiple calls flooded in from witnesses who had seen the two swimmers being swept out to sea.
Rescue teams from George Fire and Rescue, WC Government Health EMS, and SAPS all joined the NSRI in a desperate search.
Unfortunately, despite extensive efforts on both land and sea, there was no sign of the missing men.
It was later confirmed that a group of six young men had been swimming together, and the two victims were pulled away by the currents while in the water.
Recovery of the First Body
The search continued for days, and on Tuesday, September 3, a breakthrough came when SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS), assisted by the NSRI Wilderness, recovered the body of the 17-year-old boy at Victoria Bay.
The body was handed over to the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services for further investigation.
Discovery of the Second Body
On Saturday, September 7, the second body was found by a group of paddlers about 1.5 kilometers offshore from Wilderness Beach.
They came across the body floating in the sea and immediately raised the alarm at 9:16 AM.
Once again, the NSRI, SAPS, and emergency services responded quickly.
The Ann Stratford rescue craft was launched, and the body was successfully recovered and transported back to the NSRI base.
After formal identification, it was confirmed that the body belonged to the 20-year-old man who had gone missing in the same incident.
A Tragic Conclusion
The NSRI commended the paddlers for their assistance in locating the second body.
The organization also extended heartfelt condolences to the families of both young men, mourning the loss of their loved ones in such a tragic accident.
As authorities complete the investigation, the tragic event serves as a reminder of the dangers of rip currents and the importance of safety while swimming along the coastline.
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