UPDATE MONDAY 06h00: Police divers retrieved the body of a man at Small Bay near Bloubergstrand on Sunday.
It is believed it may be that of a fisherman who went missing on Saturday after being swept off rocks while angling.
However formal identification will need to be made in cooperation with Police and Forensic Pathology Services.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) along the City is continuing its search for a fisherman who washed off rocks in Bloubergstrand on Saturday.
The NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network responded to the incident after eyewitnesses reported that a fisherman washed off rocks at Small Bay.
According to NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, the local coast watch community immediately initiated a visual search along that stretch of coast.
“NSRI rescue swimmers, Big Bay Blouberg lifeguards, WC Government Health EMS and rescue squad, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services (SAPS), Community Medics, ER24 ambulance Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, CoCT Law Enforcement and Tableview neighbourhood watch responded.”
The NSRI rescue craft Rescue 18 Alpha was launched.
An NSRI headquarters rescue craft, Spirit of Rotary, was diverted to the scene from a training exercise and assisted in a search operation.
Lambinon says initial reports suggest that the adult male fisherman was swept off rocks by a wave while shoreline angling. He was reportedly last seen by a family member in the surf line.
“SAPS WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted. A Metro EMS rescue drone unit joined in the search. The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, returning to base from the West Coast, and SAPS WPDS, joined in the search.”
Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search, no sign of the missing man has been found.
Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search on Sunday.
“Thoughts are with the family of the missing man in this difficult time.”
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