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Young French rugby player lost at sea in Cape Town

Young French rugby player lost at sea in Cape Town

NSRI

A French rugby player went missing at sea off Diaz Beach following an incident in Cape Point on Wednesday.

The National Sea Rescue Institute said the 17-year-old was on a rugby team at a French school in the country.

Spokesman Craig Lambinon said rugby team players suspected the teenager was swimming at Diaz Beach when strong undertow swept him into the surf zone.

He said Table Mountain Park rangers contacted them to report a person having difficulty in the water.

“TMNP rangers reported from a point high up on the cliffs that two individuals were seen in the surf zone in the rip currents, one individual was later seen coming ashore (according to TMNP rangers) but the second individual may have been lost in the water,” Lambinon said.

The official said the alarm had been raised and that rangers had arrived at the scene, which lies beneath the cliffs of the Cape Point main park area, to conduct a more detailed investigation.

Lambinon said the City of Cape Town water rescue network, NSRI Simonstown and NSRI Hout Bay duty teams were mobilised, while Cape Medical Response sent an ambulance, a rescue vehicle and a paramedic response vehicle.

Two NSRI rescue boats were launched to join police in the response, including an EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and a Metro rescue diver.

Lambinon said despite extensive searches by sea, air and coastline, there was still no trace of the missing teenager.

He said police divers were continuing their search efforts, while French and municipal authorities were providing consultancy and logistical support.