The final body from the tragic drowning of four teenagers at Rocklands beach on Sunday was found and recovered on Wednesday morning, November 27, after being spotted yesterday afternoon.
“On Wednesday morning, during ongoing search and recovery efforts for the remaining one missing teenager, an 18-year-old male, at Rocklands Beach, a Police Dive Unit supported by Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services technical rescue team, Sea Point Police and Law Enforcement, located and recovered the body of the teenager from the sea,” said the NSRI in a statement this morning.
“Families were on the scene to pay their respects.”
“The body has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.”
The missing teenagers, aged 15, 16, and two 18-year-olds, reportedly got carried away by rip currents while swimming in the surf at Rocklands Beach on Sunday.
The first body, a male, was recovered on Sunday and declared dead soon after CPR efforts by an NSRI member. The second and third bodies, the 15-year-old female and 16-year-old male, were discovered separately on Monday.
On Tuesday November 26, another body, that of a 9-year-old boy, drowned in Kleinmond Lagoon. A group of children were swimming in the lagoon when one went missing in the water.
NSRI Kleinmond rescue swimmers, the SA Police Services, Overberg Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance and EMR ambulance services quickly arrived on the scene after the children raised the alarm.
“NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water conducting sweeping line and free dive search efforts and located the child under water and brought him to shore,” said the NSRI in a statement. “Sadly paramedics have declared the child deceased.”
“The body of the child has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.”
Image: NSRI