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2 months ago
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17-year-old French rugby player Medhi Narjissi went missing after being swept away by rip currents at Cape Point on Wednesday. (Instagram/@medhi.njs)
- 17-year-old French rugby player Medhi Narjissi went missing at Diaz Beach in Cape Point after being swept away by strong rip currents.
- An extensive search-and-rescue operation involving the NSRI, rangers and various emergency services has been conducted to no avail.
- French authorities and City of Cape Town tourism authorities are providing counselling and support to Narjissi's family, friends and team-mates.
A 17-year-old French rugby player went missing on Wednesday afternoon at Diaz Beach, Cape Point in Cape Town, after being swept away by strong rip currents.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) rangers alerted the NSRI emergency operations centre at 15:16 about someone having difficulty in the water, prompting an extensive search-and-rescue operation.
He said from a vantage point above the cliffs, TMNP rangers observed two people in the surf zone, struggling against rip currents.
While one person managed to come ashore, the second person, identified as 17-year-old Medhi Narjissi, disappeared in the water.
Lambinon said the City of Cape Town water rescue network, along with NSRI Simon's Town and NSRI Hout Bay duty crews, were immediately activated. Cape Medical Response dispatched an ambulance, a rescue vehicle and a paramedic response vehicle to the scene.
Two NSRI rescue craft were also launched from Simon's Town Station 10 and Hout Bay Station 8.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), NSRI rescue vehicles and an EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, accompanied by a rescue diver, also responded to the emergency.
Despite extensive search efforts, Lambinon said there had been no signs of the missing teenager.
He said the search conditions were challenging, with three- to four-metre swells and a 15-knot northerly wind.
Narjissi was part of a French Under-18 rugby team group visiting Cape Point.
The French Rugby Federation announced in a statement on Wednesday that Narjissi, who was "in South Africa to play in the International Series" was missing.
"This Wednesday, around 16:00, he was swept away by a wave while he and his team-mates were swimming in the sea at the Cape of Good Hope," the federation said in the statement.
Meanwhile, Lambinon said:
A teenage male friend that is reported to have attempted to rescue his team-mate from the surf zone managed to reach the shore and he was not injured.
The SAPS' Water Policing and Diving Service is continuing the search with the assistance of the EMS Metro rescue squad.
Lambinon said French authorities and City of Cape Town tourism authorities were providing counselling and logistical support to Narjissi's family, friends and team-mates during this difficult time.
The French Rugby Federation announced in a statement on Wednesday that Narjissi, who was "in South Africa to play in the International Series" was missing.
"This Wednesday, around 16:00, he was swept away by a wave while he and his team-mates were swimming in the sea at the Cape of Good Hope," the federation said in the statement.
