The bodies of two men who were reportedly playing soccer on Milnerton’s Lagoon Beach were recovered on Monday.
Although a formal identification process still needs to be conducted, it is believed that they are the 19- and 20-year-old members of a local football team who were swept away by strong rip currents on Sunday.
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The pair reportedly waded into the surf to retrieve a soccer ball.
‘It appears that they were part of a local soccer team playing soccer at the beach when they reportedly went into the surf before being swept out to sea in rip currents,’ the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Sunday.
‘The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and a Metro rescue squad drone team joined in the extensive air, sea and shoreline search. NSRI rescue swimmers, lifeguards and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers conducted sweeping line search efforts.’
Members of the public spotted the bodies on Monday.
‘From all emergency services, police, NSRI, lifeguards and the local neighbourhood watch and community groups who were involved, our hearts are with the families and friends of the deceased in this difficult time,’ the NSRI said.
‘It has been learnt that a Good Samaritan surfer, or surfers, and a Good Samaritan, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy, had tried to save the two young men. We have not been able to identify them. We commend them for their efforts despite the sad outcome.’
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Picture: Misha Jordaan / Gallo Images