Man feared drowned at Eastern Beach

HOPEFUL: Warrant Officer Fred Dicks from SAPS K9 Search and Rescue searches for a missing man with his dog Oscar near Bats Cave in Nahoon. The man went missing while swimming off Eastern Beach on Sunday evening. Police members were out searching along the coastline, supported by a police helicopter and fire department rescue members Picture: ALAN EASON
HOPEFUL: Warrant Officer Fred Dicks from SAPS K9 Search and Rescue searches for a missing man with his dog Oscar near Bats Cave in Nahoon. The man went missing while swimming off Eastern Beach on Sunday evening. Police members were out searching along the coastline, supported by a police helicopter and fire department rescue members Picture: ALAN EASON
East London police are searching for a missing man who is feared to have drowned at Eastern Beach on Sunday afternoon.

The police’s K9 unit, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and Buffalo City Metro fire department officials have all joined in the search for the man, believed to be a 23-year-old Fort Beaufort resident.

The man was believed to have been visiting with friends when he was swept out to sea at Eastern Beach.

Despite the Daily Dispatch witnessing officers conducting a search, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana couldn’t confirm this saying no case had been reported.

Early yesterday morning, for about an hour, a police helicopter joined a search and rescue team using dogs to search the area between Eastern and Orient beaches, without any luck.

In the afternoon the team returned and searched from Bat’s Cave towards Eastern Beach.

NSRI national spokesman Craig Lambinon said police were continuing the search.

lEast London police opened an inquest docket after an 11- year-old boy from Duncan Village drowned while swimming with friends.

The youngsters were swimming in a stream between Duncan Village and Buffalo Flats yesterday afternoon when the tragedy happened.

Police retrieved his body from the murky water at 4.35pm. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za

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