The body of a man, believed to be that of the 23 year old Pierre Lotter, from Kathu in the Northern Cape, was located and recovered on Sunday, 19 May, near to Melkbosstrand.
Lotter, his uncle Willem Pretorius, and their 3 Dachshund’s were caught off guard by a high tide off Bloubergstrand last Tuesday, while they were fishing at Kids Rock opposite the Blue Peter Hotel.
RELATED: Search for man and 3 dogs missing at sea in Bloubergstrand
Formal identification remains in the process in cooperation with family, the SA Police Services and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
2 of the missing dogs were also located and recovered on Sunday. 1 of the missing dogs was located and recovered during the week by City of Cape Town staff.
The City of Cape Town (CoCT), in cooperation with NSRI and Police divers, are arranging formal cremation of the 3 dogs on behalf of the family.
The NSRI has conveyed condolences to family who has requested privacy in this difficult time.
The family has released a heartfelt message to the NSRI in which they thank everyone who helped in the search:
From our Family, we would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who helped in the search to find our son Pierre, and his 2 dogs.
Words cannot describe the appreciation we have for all the CoCT Law Enforcement, NSRI (Craig of NSRI, NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, NSRI Melkbosstrand and NSRI Table Bay), the SAPS Dive Unit (Warrant Officer Gert Voigt and his Water Policing and Diving Services team), Tableview Police, Cape Town Fire and Rescue, EMS, Big Bay Surf Lifesaving, Government Health Forensic Pathology Services, Counsellors, the community, and all of the individuals who searched, donated items, and offered support finding our son Pierre.
We were overwhelmed by the number of people that stopped what they were doing and rushed to help search for our missing son and his beloved dogs.
Thank you to the Emergency Services on the scene for their tremendous efforts to resuscitate Willem. Unfortunately their efforts did not succeed and sadly Willem passed on at the scene.
Together with all those wonderful people, who were there on the evening of May 14th and did whatever they could to help us. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you.
There are so many individuals and businesses who were involved in the effort to find Pierre. We know we will never be able to thank all of them enough. Please know that you are appreciated more than words will ever express. There were also many individuals , family and friends who were unable to come and help the search but gave up prayers to the Lord and we know in our hearts that those prayers were heard.
A very big thank you to Craig from NSRI and Gert from the SAPS for their dedication and support in helping us hold it together as the hours passed. Both Craig and Gert Voigt gave us confidence that Pierre would be found and found soon. They were concerned about everyone involved, not just our family but all of the searchers and we felt that the entire operation was done smoothly, with precision and with the utmost professionalism.
Also to the thank the Police helicopter team and the Metro EMS rescue squad drone search and rescue team, who helped in the search for Pierre – we want to thank everyone whom ever they are.
Thank you to those who searched during the cold nights looking for Pierre. Thank you to Wendy and her team of professional counsellors who provided their support to us at the scene on Tuesday night.
Our family have tremendous appreciation towards everyone. We are forever thankful to every individual who searched for Pierre and did not stop searching. We are very thankful that Pierre and his beloved dogs were found so the family can have closure. We can only express our deepest gratitude for your bravery to search for Pierre.
Best wishes to all of you.
From: Tienie (Dad), Landie (Mom), Maurice (Brother), Cara (Sister in law) , Marinda (Grandmother), Rizell (Aunt) and all of Pierre’s family.
