LISTEN: Eden Park man missing at sea – mother speaks out
The National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa is looking for an Eden Park man who went missing in Jeffreys Bay on Tuesday, December 16.
The body of a 20-year-old Joburg man who went missing during the evening of Reconcilliation Day (16 December) in Jeffreys Bay, in the Eastern Cape are yet to be found.
Craig Lambinon, the national spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa (NSRI) told the news that there are as of yet no traces of Tevin Wilson from Eden Park, Alberton who went swimming at the holiday destination’s Main Beach at about 6.30pm.
“Police is currently busy with an ongoing search operation, which is currently in their hands,” he said.
“The NSRI are down there daily (at the Main Beach). We have deployed lifeguards as well.”
Lambinon said that there are lots of holiday goers at the beach at the moment and if something do washes up it will be spotted quickly and then authorities will be alerted.
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According to a press statement the NSRI Jeffreys Bay launched the sea rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II. Several emergency services including the police and a local South African Airways pilot who volunteered his private fixed wing aircraft responded.
On arrival on the scene it took some time before rescuers were able to determine where the incident had happened, who was involved and what had happened, causing a critical delay in the search and rescue operation.
After clarity on the situation it could be established that a search has commenced for Wilson who reportedly disappeared under water after getting caught in rip currents while swimming.
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“A surfer had gone to his rescue but the man had disappeared under the water before the surefer cvould reach him,” said Lambinon.
“Despite an extensive search no sign of the man has been found an at midnight (on 16 December) NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew conducted further beach shoreline searces.”
Police trauma counsellors assisted the family of the missing man. Police have opened an investigation into the incident.
Mother of missing man speaks out
“I’m heartbroken!”
This is how Fanny Wilson, 56, explained the tragic incident which have possibly led to the drowning of her 20-year-old son Tevin, on Tuesday, December 16.
Wilson said this is the first time that they as a family went on holiday in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape and were there for almost two days when the tragic accident happened.
“We arrived on Monday afternoon 15 December [in Jeffreys Bay].”
She said that her son and his cousin Jason Minnie, 19, left for the main beach the following afternoon where they spent some time on the beach.
“There he decided that he wanted to go for a swim; he wasn’t even that deep,” explains Wilson.
“But the waves were so intense and that is what took him into the sea.”
Information supplied by: Krugersdorp News
