Teenager Missing After Rip Current Incident at Fish Hoek
A teenager is currently missing after being swept away by rip currents at Fish Hoek, prompting a large-scale rescue operation on December 24. The incident occurred around 11:22 AM, when two teenagers were caught in the dangerous currents in front of the Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving Club. Darren Zimmerman, the station commander at the Simon’s Town base of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), confirmed that City of Cape Town lifeguards were the first responders to the scene.
In response to the emergency, the City’s water rescue network was activated, leading to a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. The rescue teams included NSRI swimmers, City law enforcement, Cape Medical Response, Western Cape Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, and the South African Police Service. Coast watchers were deployed to monitor the situation from above, while the Metro EMS dispatched the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter. Police Water Policing and Diving Services were also alerted to assist in the search.
Lifeguards successfully rescued an 18-year-old male from Belhar, who was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition. However, the search for the second missing teenager, also 18 years old and from Montana, continues. Despite the arrival of additional rescue resources, including five rescue craft and the Skymed helicopter, extensive searches by air, sea, and along the shoreline yielded no signs of the missing individual. Zimmerman expressed concern for the families and friends of both teenagers during this distressing time.
Multiple Water-Related Emergencies Over Festive Period
The incident at Fish Hoek is part of a series of water-related emergencies that occurred during the festive period in the Western Cape. Earlier on December 22, NSRI Plettenberg Bay was alerted at 4:17 PM about a rigid-hull inflatable boat that had capsized at the Keurbooms River Mouth, leaving six people in the water. NSRI rescue craft were launched, and rescue swimmers, along with ER24 ambulance services, responded promptly. Three private boats helmed by NSRI crew members already in the lagoon also assisted in the rescue.
All six occupants, which included two adult men and four teenage boys, were successfully rescued and brought to shore. They underwent medical assessments by NSRI medics and a doctor. Two of the teenage boys sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital for further care. The capsized vessel was later righted and recovered, having been overturned by waves while entering the river mouth.
Additionally, on the same morning, NSRI Plettenberg Bay responded to reports of two kayakers in distress offshore at Blinders, near Central Beach. Observers noted that the men were waving for help and appeared to be without paddles. An NSRI rescue craft reached them, securing their waterlogged double kayak for towing and bringing both men safely back to the NSRI base.
In another operation that morning, NSRI Mossel Bay crews were alerted at 6:40 AM regarding a medical evacuation from a bulk carrier located about one nautical mile offshore of Mossel Bay harbor. After coordinating with various agencies, a rescue craft was launched, successfully stabilizing a 32-year-old Filipino seafarer before transferring him to the rescue craft. He was then brought into Mossel Bay harbor and transported to the hospital in stable condition.
These incidents highlight the importance of safety measures and preparedness during the busy festive season, as rescue teams remain vigilant in responding to emergencies along the coast.
