The search for an American student who went missing while swimming on the Wild Coast on Sunday night, was called off yesterday due to strong currents and high shark activity.
Nicolas Upton, 19, is feared drowned after disappearing during a late-night swim with three friends on Sunday.
This was just hours after a group of 11 American students arrived at Bulungula Lodge, located south-west of Coffee Bay at the mouth of the Xhorha River.
US Embassy spokeswoman Cindy Harvey confirmed an American citizen “went missing” and said they were monitoring the case and giving consular assistance to Upton’s family.
“South African national and local authorities are leading the investigation. We are working with local authorities but cannot comment further due to concerns for the privacy of the family.
“The welfare of US citizens is one of the Department of State’s highest priorities,” Harvey said.
Upton’s friends, who joined police divers and local residents during the search on Monday and yesterday, were due to fly from East London to Cape Town yesterday.
Emergency services personnel conducted a three-hour search on land and water covering more than 8km of the coastline on both sides of the lodge.
Police divers from the K9 search and rescue unit in East London using sniffer dogs and inflatable boats, were joined by an Eastern Cape department of health Emergency Medical Services helicopter,
According to a police source who formed part of the search, the sea was “very unpredictable”.
He said strong currents and sea creatures played a big role in whether a missing person would be found.
“We have found nothing at all,” he said. “If sharks get hold of the body and start biting, the body doesn’t float any more.”
Upton was a student at George Washington University in the US and had been on a study abroad programme in South Africa.
He was part of GW University’s rowing team and at 1.9m was described as a strong and “big kid”.
While in South Africa, he studied at the University of Cape Town and was visiting the Wild Coast with friends taking a break from classes. — Additional reporting by Aron Hyman
Search called off for body of US student feared drowned
Nicolas Upton, 19, is feared drowned after disappearing during a late-night swim with three friends on Sunday.
This was just hours after a group of 11 American students arrived at Bulungula Lodge, located south-west of Coffee Bay at the mouth of the Xhorha River.
US Embassy spokeswoman Cindy Harvey confirmed an American citizen “went missing” and said they were monitoring the case and giving consular assistance to Upton’s family.
“South African national and local authorities are leading the investigation. We are working with local authorities but cannot comment further due to concerns for the privacy of the family.
“The welfare of US citizens is one of the Department of State’s highest priorities,” Harvey said.
Upton’s friends, who joined police divers and local residents during the search on Monday and yesterday, were due to fly from East London to Cape Town yesterday.
Emergency services personnel conducted a three-hour search on land and water covering more than 8km of the coastline on both sides of the lodge.
Police divers from the K9 search and rescue unit in East London using sniffer dogs and inflatable boats, were joined by an Eastern Cape department of health Emergency Medical Services helicopter,
According to a police source who formed part of the search, the sea was “very unpredictable”.
He said strong currents and sea creatures played a big role in whether a missing person would be found.
“We have found nothing at all,” he said. “If sharks get hold of the body and start biting, the body doesn’t float any more.”
Upton was a student at George Washington University in the US and had been on a study abroad programme in South Africa.
He was part of GW University’s rowing team and at 1.9m was described as a strong and “big kid”.
While in South Africa, he studied at the University of Cape Town and was visiting the Wild Coast with friends taking a break from classes. — Additional reporting by Aron Hyman
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