The National Sea Rescue Institute has confirmed that the body of one of the men who disappeared at Strand Beach on Wednesday has washed up near Lourens River on Thursday morning.

Spokesperson Craig Lambinon advised that the man was declared deceased on the scene, and his body was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

“On Thursday morning, 3 September, NSRI Gordons Bay were alerted to reports of a body discovered on Strand Beach, in the Helderberg Protected Marine Area, near to the Lourens River.”

An inquest docket has been opened by police.

The search continues for the second missing man, and Lambinon said it is not yet clear which of the victims’ bodies have been recovered.

“While it is believed that the body located and recovered is that of the 39 year old male who went missing on Wednesday, formal identification, by the family, is in progress in cooperation with Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” said Lambinon

The men are believed to have been part of a group who visited the beach Wednesday afternoon, when two members of the group, a 22-year-old from Belhar and a 39-year-old from Mfuleni, got into difficulty in the water and subsequently disappeared. 

Lambinon said the men were helping another member of the group who was struggling in the water at the time of the incident. 

He added that the sea rescue teams were alerted by eyewitnesses at the scene.  

“It appears that a group of men from a local business, on a work off day, attended the beach where one of their group, a local man, got into difficulties in the water. His two colleagues were caught in rip currents while trying to assist their friend, and both men disappeared in the surf zone,” said Lambinon. 

The friend, who was initially in distress in the water, was rescued by a Good Samaritan and received medical attention from paramedics, after which he was deemed okay.  

The search for the missing men got underway shortly after.  Lambinon said police are investigating. 

*This article has been edited to include the latest developments in the case.