A 22-year-old man from Kranshoek went missing on Friday after he was swept off the rocks at Stillbaai, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew responded to a drowning in progress at 12:42pm at Stilbaai, between Robberg Nature Reserve and Kranshoek, near Plettenberg Bay.
A Kranshoek man, believed to be aged 30, reported that his 22-year-old friend was swept off the rock by a wave at Stillbaai while they were on the shoreline.
The man reportedly covered a significant distance between the shoreline and a residence above the cliffs of a popular hiking trail and fishing coastline.
The man said he tried to save his friend but had no cell signal, and thus made the decision to run for help.
The resident, a local farmer, alerted Tech Security and NSRI, the WC Government Health EMS Metro Control and the SA Police Services (SAPS) were activated.
The NSRI rescue craft The Courtenay’s Rescue and Free Runner responded to the scene, as well as NSRI rescue swimmers, an EMS rescue squad and EMS ambulance, the SA Police Services, our NSRI rescue vehicle and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter.
A local good samaritan, Duran de Villiers, volunteered to respond via his private boat from Knysna. He also offered the assistance of his aerial drone.
‘It was determined that because of the significant distance that the man had needed to cover to reach a place where the alarm could be raised some significant time lapse had passed since the incident had happened,’ the NSRI said in a statement.
‘The friend had later been brought back to the scene by Police to point out exactly where his friend had been swept off rocks by a wave.
‘On rescue resources arrival on the scene, during the incoming tide, sea conditions were found to be rough and extensive search efforts were commenced.
‘An extensive sea, air and shoreline search has revealed no signs of the missing man.’
The SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were activated and continued an ongoing search while police investigated the circumstances of the incident.
The 30-year-old man was later transported to hospital to be treated for shock.
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Picture: Juhi Sewchurran / Unsplash