Body of missing teen recovered in Clanwilliam Dam

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) confirmed it has recovered the body of a missing teen in Clanwilliam in the Western Cape. 

The spokesperson for the NSRI, Craig Lambinon said the South African Police Service (SAPS) notified the NSRI Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 12.36pm that a local 17-year-old boy was suspected to be missing in the water at Clanwilliam Dam on Tuesday. 

“The SAPS, Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and NSRI volunteer lifeguards were searching for the teenager, one of three NSRI volunteer lifeguards conducting informal pre-season lifeguard training on Clanwilliam Dam, who reportedly had last been seen paddling on a rescue board. The alarm was raised.

Police Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) responded to Clanwilliam,” Lambinon said. 

Police divers began their dive operation and several repetitive dives were conducted until sunset, including surface water and shoreline search efforts, supported by an EMS rescue squad, NSRI lifeguards, police, NSRI, Cederberg Fire and Rescue Services, and Cederberg Law Enforcement.

“During ongoing diving operations on Wednesday morning, police divers located and recovered the body of the teenager. Condolences are conveyed to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased teenager. Police have opened an inquest docket,” Lambinon said. 

On Tuesday, a 62-year-old man drowned while surfing in Strand in Cape Town. 

NSRI's Gordons Bay station commander, Ryan Holmes said duty crew and the City of Cape Town water rescue network were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Strand Beach.

"Reports were received that a local man, appearing to be in difficulty in the surf with a long board, had been rescued from the water assisted by bystanders, but he was unresponsive," Holmes said.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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