CAPE TOWN, South Africa (23 August 2004) -- Rescuers fear that a scuba diver who went missing near Miller's Point in False Bay has drowned, after a search for him over the weekend proved unsuccessful. A diving mask and snorkel were found by police divers in the area at the weekend, but they have not yet officially been linked to the missing man. A relative could not confirm that the equipment was his. The man, 31, from Summer Greens, whose youngest child is just three weeks old, was scuba diving between Simon's Town and Miller's Point on Thursday when he disappeared. His family has asked rescuers not to release his name. It is understood he was with a friend, but the friend was skindiving, not scuba diving. The friend alerted the Simon's Town police that his companion had dived at about 3.55pm and had not resurfaced. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) launched its Spirit of Freemasonry boat and the Skymed surf rescue helicopter took off to search for the man. Police divers were sent out, but 30 knot south-easterly winds, 1.5m swells and fading light meant the divers were unable to enter the water. A shore patrol was set up to search the coastline. NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said: "The NSRI's rescue boat and Skymed surf rescue helicopter continued their search until light had completely faded." | | The search resumed on Friday but again the man was not found. On Saturday, a full-scale dive search was undertaken just after 8am by divers from the police, Metro Rescue, Cape Town Fire and Rescue and the navy, who conducted search patterns from the area where the missing man entered the water. A naval dog unit also combed the shoreline, assisted by Simon's Town Disaster Management members. Clothing supplied by the family was given to the navy dogs so they had the scent of the missing man. Lambinon said the man's diving instructor had described him as a skilled and advanced diver. On Saturday, some of the man's family and his diving companion were waiting for news on the shore. Lambinon said: "The distraught family have asked that names not be released at this stage. "The missing diver is married and has two children, and the youngest is only three weeks old." He said all they could do now was wait. "The search has been called off. We are just waiting to see what the ocean will bring up." SOURCE - The Cape Argus |
