A joint team of SAPS K9 Search and Rescue, SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services, Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers (local surfers), and NSRI Mdumbi/Nyandeni municipal lifeguards is continuing with the search to locate a seven (07) year-old boy who was swept away by the sea while swimming at Mdumbi Beach in the Eastern Cape.

The unnamed boy, who was visiting the beach, was swept away by the current at around 12 pm on Sunday, while the children who were with him were successfully rescued.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers, who were surfing nearby, noticed a group of children in distress in the surf zone. They used their surfboards to rescue three girls, but indications alerted to a fourth child still missing.

“NSRI Mdumbi/Nyandeni Municipal lifeguards joined the Mdumbi Backpackers volunteers searching for the missing 7 year old male child. Lifeguards conducted free dive search efforts while sea and shoreline search efforts continued. The SA Police Services and Police K9 Search and Rescue were activated and Police attended at the scene,” the NSRI said.

It added that an extensive search has yielded no results so far.

“Despite the extensive sea and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing 7 year old male child. A female, age 13, was medically treated on the beach for non-fatal drowning symptoms and in a serious but stable condition, she was transported to hospital and is recovering,” it added.