Searches intensify for drowning victims

A NEW Year's Day celebration turned to tragedy at Pennington Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, with search efforts continuing yesterday for three men who were still missing following a mass drowning incident on Thursday evening.

- KAREN SINGH

Three fatalities have been confirmed in Pennington.

On Thursday evening a large group of people got caught in rip currents near the tidal pool.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 39 Rocky Bay, along with Police Search and Rescue, Umdoni lifeguards, and IPSS medical rescue, responded to the alarm.

"At least five people were reported to be in distress initially," said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.

He said alert lifeguards were instrumental in the initial phase, successfully managing to rescue an 18-yearold female from the water.

A 21-year-old male was declared deceased on the scene by paramedics.

The tragedy deepened later that night when, at "approximately 9.30pm on Thursday, police recovered the body of a second male, also aged 21, nearby on the beach," Lambinon confirmed. Search efforts were extensive and resumed at first light on Friday, extending along the coastline and out to sea when a third fatality was confirmed.