fbpx
21.7 C
Cape Town
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

French U/18 rugby player missing at sea

Published on

 

Tragedy has struck the French u/18 schools rugby squad after one of their team members went missing at sea at Diaz Beach, near Cape Point, on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The National Sea Rescue Institute says it’s believed the members of the rugby squad may have been swimming at Diaz Beach when strong rip currents swept the teenager into the surf zone.

 

He has been identified as 17-year-old Medhi Narjissi, who was part of the squad competing in a youth tournament in Cape Town.

 

The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon says their Emergency Operations Centre was contacted at 15h16 on Wednesday by TMNP (Table Mountain National Parks) rangers reporting that they suspected there to be a person in difficulty in the water at Diaz Beach.

 

From a vantage point above the cliffs, the rangers reported that it appeared that two people were in the surf zone in rip currents. One person managed to make it to shore, but the second person disappeared in the water.

 

It is reported that Narjissi’s friend attempted to rescue him, but he was unsuccessful and managed to make it the the shore.

 

While raising the alarm, TMNP rangers responded to the scene, below the cliffs of Cape point main parking area, to investigate.

 

The City of Cape Town’s water rescue network, NSRI Simonstown and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews were then activated.

 

Cape Medical Response dispatched an ambulance, a rescue vehicle and a paramedic response vehicle. Police divers and an EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was also deployed.

 

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon says conditions on the scene were 3 to 4 meter swells and a 15 knot Northerly wind.

 

‘Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search there remains no signs of the missing teenager. Police WPDS attended at the scene and Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search. An EMS Metro rescue squad are on alert to assist Police in the ongoing search.’

 

French authorities and authorities from the City of Cape Town’s tourism department are assisting with counselling and logistics.

 

Amidst the tragedy, the U18 International Series in Cape Town is scheduled to begin on Monday 12 August, where France will face hosts South Africa as well as England and Georgia.

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

Latest articles

Cape Town takes another step to future-proof its energy supply

  Construction has begun on South Africa's first Municipality-run solar PV plant, as the City of Cape Town works towards future-proofing its energy supply.   On Monday,...

Cape Town the ‘fifth friendliest City in the World’

  Cape Town has been rated the 5th friendliest City in the World by Conde Nast readers in the UK.   The Conde Nast 2024 Readers Choice...

Queues, delays and frustration as Navy Festival draws thousands

  Tens of thousands of people descended on Simon's Town this past weekend for the SA Navy Festival which returned after a 7-year absence, but...