The search continues for a 44-year-old man who was swept away at Milnerton Beach on Sunday. Picture: NSRI’s Dirk Erasmus
A 44-year-old man from Belhar has been missing at sea in Milnerton since Sunday evening.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) says the man and a 23-year-old man were swimming at Milnerton Beach when they were caught in rip currents.
A “good Samaritan” rescued the 23-year-old man using the NSRI pink rescue buoy, but the search continues for the 44-year-old man.
NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said patrons and staff at a Milnerton Beach restaurant had alerted emergency services after spotting the men in trouble just before 7pm on Sunday.
By Tuesday morning, despite “extensive search efforts”, the 44-year-old man was still missing, said Mr Lambinon.
The 23-year-old had been taken to hospital and treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms, said Mr Lambinon.
He added that police divers continued to search for the missing man.
Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club chairman Charl Jones said Sunday’s incident had happened just after the lifeguards had gone off duty, but he was thankful that the bystander had stepped in to help the 23-year-old man.
He said that by the time the lifeguards had arrived, the 44-year-old man had disappeared.
Several people had witnessed the incident and anyone left traumatised by it could contact the club at 072 443 6671 or milnertonslc@gmail.com to be put into contact with a counsellor, he said.
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