NSRI confirms American tourist missing at Cape Point
Rescue teams are searching for a 37-year-old American tourist who was swept out to sea at Diaz Beach in Cape Point.
Rescue teams are searching for a 37-year-old American tourist who was swept out to sea at Diaz Beach in Cape Point.
According to National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the alarm was raised on Wednesday at 18:12 after reports of a drowning in progress.
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Rescue teams dispatched
NSRI Simon’s Town station commander Darren Zimmerman said rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Responders included crews from NSRI Simon’s Town and Kommetjie, Cape Medical Response, South African Police Service, Table Mountain National Park rangers and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service.
Rescue craft Donna Nicholas, Jack & Irene and Spirit of the Vines were launched while rescue swimmers conducted a shoreline and sea search for the missing man.
“On arrival on the scene a search commenced for a 37-year-old American man who was missing in the surf zone at Diaz Beach,” Zimmerman said.
Unable to locate the man
Despite an extensive search that continued after nightfall, rescuers were unable to locate the man.
According to the NSRI, the tourist had been visiting Cape Point with family members on the final day of their holiday in Cape Town.
The man and a male relative had entered the water, but quickly realised the strength of the currents. The relative, who is a firefighter in the United States, advised that they leave the water.
“They were believed to be in shin-deep water attempting to retreat from the surf when the missing man was swept off his feet by rip currents and carried out to sea before disappearing,” Zimmerman said.
‘Difficult time’
The South African Police Service Water Policing and Diving Services has been tasked with continuing the search.
The NSRI said its thoughts are with the family of the missing man during what it described as an extremely difficult time.
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