An American student is believed to have drowned on the Wild Coast after he and a group of friends decided to go for a late-night swim at the weekend.
The victim, identified as Nicholas Upton, was holidaying at Bulungula Lodge just south-west of Coffee Bay at the mouth of the Xhora River, when he and three others decided to go for a swim between 10pm and 11pm on Sunday.
“As the morning progressed all efforts to get a helicopter rescue team to the site were made, but with the first break in the weather only coming after midday, and after an extensive search had already been carried out, a helicopter rescue effort was stood down.”
Lambinon said Upton’s family in the US were being kept informed on the matter.
“Attempts will be made to despatch a police helicopter to join in the ongoing search , weather dependant, and local aviators from the surrounding areas and from the Border Aviation Club have volunteered to despatch private aircraft to join in the search subject to their availability once weather conditions improve,” he said.
Bulungula Lodge general manager Lindile Mthiyo said Upton was among a group of 11 who had booked into the establishment hours earlier.
He said members of the group had decided to go to the beach after eating dinner just after 7.30pm on Sunday.
“We are traumatised because it is very unusual for such a thing to happen. We are hoping his body will be recovered when they use a helicopter.
“We are doing everything we can to assist. The lodge is owned by the community and everyone went all out during the search,” he said.
Mthiyo said the last time something similar had happened, was in 2007 when a Belgian tourist vanished. His body was never recovered.
Mqanduli Cluster police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana could not be reached for comment.
The eco-friendly Bulungula Lodge has been described as “very special” by the Lonely Planet guide and “one of the world’s ultimate ethical travel experiences” by The Rough Guide.
John Vance, adviser to US ambassador Patrick Gaspard, could also not be reached. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
US student missing from night swim
The victim, identified as Nicholas Upton, was holidaying at Bulungula Lodge just south-west of Coffee Bay at the mouth of the Xhora River, when he and three others decided to go for a swim between 10pm and 11pm on Sunday.
“As the morning progressed all efforts to get a helicopter rescue team to the site were made, but with the first break in the weather only coming after midday, and after an extensive search had already been carried out, a helicopter rescue effort was stood down.”
Lambinon said Upton’s family in the US were being kept informed on the matter.
“Attempts will be made to despatch a police helicopter to join in the ongoing search , weather dependant, and local aviators from the surrounding areas and from the Border Aviation Club have volunteered to despatch private aircraft to join in the search subject to their availability once weather conditions improve,” he said.
Bulungula Lodge general manager Lindile Mthiyo said Upton was among a group of 11 who had booked into the establishment hours earlier.
He said members of the group had decided to go to the beach after eating dinner just after 7.30pm on Sunday.
“We are traumatised because it is very unusual for such a thing to happen. We are hoping his body will be recovered when they use a helicopter.
“We are doing everything we can to assist. The lodge is owned by the community and everyone went all out during the search,” he said.
Mthiyo said the last time something similar had happened, was in 2007 when a Belgian tourist vanished. His body was never recovered.
Mqanduli Cluster police spokesman Major Zamukulungisa Jozana could not be reached for comment.
The eco-friendly Bulungula Lodge has been described as “very special” by the Lonely Planet guide and “one of the world’s ultimate ethical travel experiences” by The Rough Guide.
John Vance, adviser to US ambassador Patrick Gaspard, could also not be reached. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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