A 24 year old man from Observatory in Cape Town has not been seen since he went under in the surf at Silver Sands beach, near betty’s bay. Rescuers spent Saturday afternoon looking for him from boats, from the beach and from the air. They were out again on Sunday. Nobody has found him yet, and the facts below are the simple version of where things stand.
What happened on Saturday
The man was swimming on the afternoon of Saturday, 31 October when he went missing in the water. Around 14:35, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) received a report that someone was drowning. The NSRI Kleinmond crew on duty headed out at once.
I’ve put the key details in a table, which makes them easy to scan.
| Detail | What is known |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, 31 October |
| Location | Silver Sands beach, betty’s bay |
| Alert time | About 14:35 |
| Missing person | 24 year old man from Observatory |
| Lead rescue group | NSRI Kleinmond |
| Follow up search | Police divers on Sunday, 1 November |
Who joined the search
Kleinmond put two rescue boats on the water, Spirit of Surfski and Michele. A rescue vehicle also went to the beach with rescue swimmers.
More help came as word spread. SAPS sent officers. The Western Cape Government Health EMS Metro rescue squad arrived, and so did the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter. The police Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) were alerted as well.
When you see a list like that, you realise a single call can set a lot of people in motion within minutes.
What the divers did in the water
An EMS Metro rescue diver and three NSRI rescue swimmers went into the surf themselves. They searched underwater using a sweeping line free diving method. The idea is simple enough: the rescuers line up and move through the water side by side, covering the ground in a straight sweep so no patch is missed.
In practice, it is hard going. The surf keeps shoving them around, the current pulls, and there is very little to see below the surface. They searched thoroughly, but they did not find him on Saturday.
Where the search stands now
Schalk Boonzaaier, the NSRI Kleinmond station commander, said that after the first searches there was no sign of the man. Police have opened an investigation.
On Sunday, 1 November, police divers from the WPDS went back to the water with help from NSRI Kleinmond. The search was still ongoing when this was written.
The story is still developing, and the facts could shift. Anyone wanting official word can follow the NSRI website. The organisation has also passed on its condolences to the man’s family and friends.
Why the surf near betty’s bay can be risky
The coast around betty’s bay is lovely, and many people head there for a quiet swim. But the NSRI says conditions can change quickly and strong currents can catch out swimmers, even on a beach they know well.
A spot that was gentle last weekend can be rough today. Tides and swell move all the time, and a rip current can sit under what looks like calm water. If you’ve never seen one, they are easy to miss.
Sunshine makes people relaxed, and that is when many of them stop paying attention to the sea.
Simple safety steps for beachgoers
These are general tips and not details from this case.
If there is a lifeguard on the beach, swim near them. They know the local dangers and can reach you fast. Many quieter beaches don’t have lifeguards, so you need to be more careful there.
Try not to swim by yourself. Even a good swimmer can run into trouble, and someone on the sand can call for help.
Take a minute to look at the conditions before you get wet. Check the waves, the wind and the tide. The South African Weather Service posts marine forecasts, and checking them is an easy step before a trip.
If a rip current takes hold of you, don’t panic and don’t try to swim straight back against it. Swim sideways, parallel to the shore, until the pull lets go. Then make your way in. That one simple move helps a lot.
Keep children close to you in the water, and leave the alcohol until after the swim.
If you see someone in trouble, don’t go in after them. Call 112 from your cellphone and tell the operator exactly where you are. It is an easy number to remember.
A reminder for the holiday season
Summer is nearly here, and more families will be heading to the coast. It is worth having a short chat with your kids and friends about the sea before you go. It doesn’t need to be a big speech.
Sea rescue crews give up their own time to answer calls like this one. If you want to help them, take the safety steps above and pass them on.
What happens next
For now, the job is the same: find the man. Police divers and NSRI crews will keep looking as long as conditions allow, and the police investigation goes on alongside.
Anyone with information can contact SAPS or the NSRI. Please don’t post guesses or unconfirmed claims online, because they hurt the family and can slow the search.
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