Rescue workers are searching for two men who were washed down a crevice along a Port St Johns beach on Tuesday, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the men, a local resident whose name has not been released and 24-year-old Craig Klawansky from Johannesburg, were sightseeing with three friends when a large wave pulled the local man into the crevice.
Klawansky attempted to rescue the man when he was pulled down into the crevice by another set of waves.
A search using ropes and lighting to get as far into the crevice as possible revealed no sign of the men.
Local lifeguards and the South African Police Service are continuing to monitor and patrol the area.
Klawansky’s family and friends are receiving counselling, said Lambinon.
Drownings
Meanwhile, two men drowned in separate incidents while swimming in Parys and Heidelberg, police said on Wednesday.
Morena John Mahale (27), of Tumahole, died on Monday about 6pm while swimming with two others in the Vaal River near the Mimosa holiday resort in Parys, said Sergeant Malebo Khosana. His body was found by police divers on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Gauteng police recovered the body of Mouccow Houssein (18) from the Suikerbosrand River near Heidelberg, said Superintendent Eugene Opperman.
Houssein and three friends were swimming on Friday when he disappeared.
A man also drowned on Wednesday when a boat capsized at the Vaal Dam, Netcare 911 said.
”Reports from the scene indicate that three men were in a small boat which started taking in water at about 4am,” said spokesperson Mark Stokoe.
He said the three were forced to swim to shore, but only two of them made it back to shore. ”They only discovered that the third man was missing when they got back to shore,” said Stokoe.
Welkom police rescue divers were called in to assist with the search. — Sapa