Teen's body found in Midmar
2006-12-18 16:39
Pietermaritzburg - The body of a 15-year old boy who drowned in a boating accident was recovered from KwaZulu-Natal's Midmar Dam near Howick on Monday afternoon.
A team of police and navy divers spent most of Monday searching for the body of Clinton Aupais after police divers had to abandon the search for the teenager late on Sunday afternoon amid the deteriorating light of an impending storm.
Inspector Jack Haskins of the police search and rescue unit said the boy's father had been at the dam for most of the day while his mother joined him later in the afternoon.
"They're taking it very hard," he said.
Aupais is believed to have fallen off the back of a friend's speedboat as it turned to collect two other boys wake boarding, Haskins said on Sunday.
He was struck by the boat's propeller and disappeared from view before anyone could go to his rescue. He was apparently not wearing a life jacket.
His parents were not at the dam at the time of the tragedy.
Netcare 911 paramedics officially declared Aupais dead. An inquest docket will be opened.
- SAPA