US student swept out to sea

2008-09-02 12:09

Verashni Pillay

Cape Town - Emergency services were still searching on Tuesday for a young American student who was swept out to sea near Plettenberg Bay on Monday afternoon, rescue workers said.

The 21-year-old man was washed out to sea at about 12:15 after climbing onto rocks in Harkerville between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, according to NSRI Plettenberg Bay Station Commander Ray Farnham.

"He was on a mid-semester vacation in the Southern Cape with four other exchange students," said Farnham.

"The five, from the University of Cape Town, had just hiked down to the beachfront from the View Site parking area when the man climbed onto the rocks."

There were heavy swells at the time and Lambinon said it was possible the young man climbed onto the rocks during a lull between sets of waves.

"We can't say for sure but he might have turned around, not looking at the sea, and that's when the set came through and washed him off the rocks," he said.

Because of poor cellphone reception, rescue services were only alerted later and responded at about 12:45.

But a private resident, Kobus Crause, happened to be in the area with his private helicopter and helped search before the NSRI's arrival, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon told News24.

An SA Air Force helicopter with NSRI rescue swimmers onboard, police officers and Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services all searched extensively with no sign of the man on Monday.

"The search is continuing," said Lambinon on Tuesday.

Meanwhile Farnham said the man's name would not be released yet. "The NSRI and the SA Police Service are liaising with the American Consulate General, family of the missing man and UCT student co-ordinators but at this stage the name of the missing man will not be released," he said.

The consulate had no comment.

Lambinon warned the public about rough seas. "We would strongly advise anglers and hikers, when sea conditions are rough, to stay as far away from the sea as possible for fear of these waves washing them off the rocks when they're not watching."

- News24