Update
GEORGE NEWS - Police divers this week continuously searched for the man from Gqeberha who went missing at Herold's Bay on Saturday 13 November.
Despite efforts by local swimmers and surfers to reach Luvuyo Xoli (37) when he got into trouble in the sea at the popular holiday spot, he disappeared under the water and hasn't been seen since.
According to Mike Vonk, NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander, their crew was alerted about a drowning in progress at 11:15 on Saturday morning.
"Two local bystanders and a surfer had entered the water in an effort to assist the man who was being swept out to sea, caught in a rip current. Local man, Rennie Pringle, was running towards the water to assist when he was handed an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, stationed at the beach, by a young local girl.
"Another man, Dave Cammachie, wearing flippers and using his bodyboard, together with a local unidentified surfer on his surfboard, swam after the man in an effort to save him, but before they reached him the casualty disappeared under water," said Vonk.
Wilderness NSRI crew in the water in Herold's Bay on Sunday morning.
Photo: Kristy Kolberg
Other local surfers had also reacted and they joined the search efforts.
A sea rescue craft, stationed at the beach, was launched in an attempt to find the man, while another rescue craft was towed to the scene from the NSRI base in Wilderness.
"Both sea rescue craft were launched and they commenced a search while NSRI Mossel Bay, at sea at the time conducting routine training exercises, diverted their sea rescue craft St Blaize Rescuer which joined in the search," said Vonk.
An Indwe Aviation helicopter which was in the air at the time, returning to George Airport from the Dana Bay vicinity, also joined the search.
Unfortunately, despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search there remains no sign of the missing man. The search resumed on Sunday morning at 08:00 and continued this week.
A team of police divers were also deployed. They will continue the search depending on weather conditions.
George Herald's efforts to get hold of Xoli's family for comment were unsuccessful.
The search for the missing Luvuyo Xoli continued on Sunday morning.
Photo: Kristy Kolberg
NSRI rescue crew searching for the missing Luvuyo Xoli at Herold's Bay on Saturday morning. Photo: Henri von Steen
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