Beach soccer turns tragic as two players go missing in Milnerton

There was no sign of two young men who went missing at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton, on Sunday despite an extensive search.

According to the NSRI, a 19-year-old and 20-year-old, reportedly part of a local soccer team playing soccer at the beach, went into the surf before being swept out to sea in rip currents.

NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Bakoven Milnerton lifeguards, and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services launched five rescue craft to assist in a search operation with emergency services and police.

“An extensive search was conducted for a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old who went missing at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton,” the NSRI said.

“The EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and a Metro rescue squad drone team joined in the extensive air, sea and shoreline search.

“NSRI rescue swimmers, lifeguards and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers conducted sweeping line search efforts.

“Despite the extensive search there remains no sign of the two missing men,” the NSRI said.

Police divers were continuing the search.

“Thoughts are with the family of the missing young men in this difficult time,” it said.

Meanwhile, the body of a man recovered by police divers from rocks on the shoreline at low tide at Small Bay, Bloubergstrand, on Sunday morning is believed to be that of a fisherman reported missing on Saturday.

Just after 3pm on Saturday, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the City of Cape Town water rescue network were activated following eyewitness reports of the fisherman being washed off rocks at Small Bay.

He was last seen by a family member in the surf line.

The SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services were alerted, a Metro EMS rescue drone unit joined in the search along with the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, returning to base from the West Coast.

The NSRI said a formal identification would need to be made following the discovery of the body on Sunday.

Cape Times