Update
GEORGE NEWS - A sunny weekend that ended in tragedy has led to a dark week on the Garden Route coast as police divers, NSRI and other emergency services continue to search for the 16-year-old boy from Thembalethu who went missing at sea in Wilderness on Sunday 27 November.
The boy got into trouble in the water when he and another boy (15) were caught in rip currents at approximately 14:00. It is believed that initially there were five boys in the water, but three made it out safely.
The NSRI located and recovered the 15-year-old. He was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms.
An extensive air, sea and shoreline search for the 16-year-old was launched, including NSRI rescue swimmers deployed into the surf to conduct free-dive sweeping line search efforts.
By the time of going to print on Wednesday there was still no sign of the teenager and the search continues.
George Herald reached out his family, but they declined to comment at this stage.
Bystanders on the beach on Sunday afternoon when paramedics were treating a 16-year-old teenager after he got into trouble in the water earlier.
Wilderness: 3 incidents on Sunday
While emergency services were searching for the boy from Thembalethu that afternoon, an off-duty lifeguard who happened to be at the same beach, noticed two more people caught in rip currents nearby and immediately swam in to help them.
"NSRI resources and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, that were there searching for the missing teenager, diverted to assist in this rescue operation," said NSRI Wilderness station commander Mike Vonk.
The helicopter located two teenage boys in the surf impact zone, after which an NSRI rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter into the surf. He secured one teenager (16) who was semi-conscious and in a serious condition.
The swimmer and the boy were taken to shore on a rescue craft and the boy was immediately treated by paramedics on the scene. The second teenager (15) was also brought to shore and received medical treatment.
The 15-year-old boy was taken to hospital by ambulance, while the 16-year old was airlifted to hospital by Skymed in a serious but stable condition.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were doing routine training exercises, also at Wilderness Beach, when they were notified of a female caught in a rip current.
According to Vonk, an NSRI lifeguard, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy, and an NSRI rescue swimmer deployed into the surf. A member of the public had also launched into the surf.
"The public member reached the girl first and he was able to bring her towards the beach where the NSRI lifeguard and rescue swimmer assisted them safely onto the beach. The girl, a local, was not injured," said Vonk.
The Skymed helicopter on the scene in Wilderness on Sunday.
Wilderness: Saturday
On Saturday morning at about 10:00, NSRI Wilderness reported to a drowning in progress on Leentjiesklip. However, the person made it to shore safely.
Paramedics treating the 16-year-old teenager on the beach before transporting him to the helicopter.
One of the teenagers receiving medical treatment after he was recovered from the water. Photo: Kristy Kolberg
Drowning in Glentana
Also on Sunday afternoon, a 36-year-old woman from Mossel Bay drowned at Glentana Beach. According to George Herald's sister publication, Mossel Bay Advertiser, emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 14:15.
The woman was swimming when she got into trouble. After about 40 minutes of trying to resuscitate her, she was declared dead on the scene.
The 16-year-old teenager was airlifted to hospital in a serious but stable condition. Photos: Kristy Kolberg
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