Khayelitsha man swept away by currents and missing at sea near Monwabisi

A Khayelitsha man has gone missing after being swept away at sea. Despite an extensive search, there remains no signs of him.

At 16h10, Monday, 22 January, the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network was alerted to reports from CoCT lifeguards of a drowning in progress at Monwabisi Beach, False Bay.

Lifeguards had launched into the surf, using Malibu rescue boards, to rescue a man caught in rip currents, but almost immediately after being caught in currents the man had disappeared under water.

CoCT Law Enforcement, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services, NSRI Strandfontein and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter were activated.

SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Dive Services) were alerted.

On arrival on the scene rescue services and the rescue helicopter assisted the lifeguards in an extensive search in rough sea conditions.

Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search, there remains no signs of the missing man, age 23, from Somalia, living in Khayelitsha.

SAPS WPDS attended at the scene and Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search operation.

Thoughts are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time.