Port Alfred – A tragic turn of events unfolded at East Beach as search efforts for a missing 16-year-old teenager from Soweto, Gauteng, concluded with the recovery of a body believed to be his.
The teenager, part of a group attending a sports event in Port Alfred, went missing on Thursday while swimming with friends and two coaches unrelated to the event, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
The group had visited the beach for a casual swim when the incident occurred.
An intensive search, involving the SA Police Services, Police K9 Search and Rescue teams, Ndlambe Municipal Environmental officers, and lifeguards, began immediately after the alarm was raised.
During ongoing search efforts, a body was located and recovered and taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.https://t.co/k1T8vn5irC
— National Sea Rescue Institute (@NSRI) December 7, 2024
Despite exhaustive efforts, the teenager remained unaccounted for until Friday, when a body was located in the surf zone.
“During ongoing search efforts, a body was located and recovered and taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
“While formal identification by family is in progress, the body located and recovered is believed to be the missing teenager, age 16, from Soweto, Gauteng,” said NSRI.
The family of the deceased is receiving support from police, municipal authorities, chaplain services, and the rowing sports community.
“Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased teenager,” NSRI said.
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Picture: nsri.org.za
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
