Despite an extensive air and shoreline search, no sign has been found of Mohamad Nur Mitchell, who went missing in rough seas while diving at Bantry Bay, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
Mitchell, a married father of two, and his brother in law went snorkelling at about 9am.
His brother Sabri Mitchell says after their swim, the other man noticed Mohamad Nur, 32, was missing.
“The only thing we found thus far were his two flippers,” he says.
NSRI Bakoven deputy station commander Luke van Riet said duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) at about 11.20am.
It appeared that while the men were exiting the water after a dive in rough sea conditions, Mitchell’s brother in law was able to get out of the surf onto rocks but Mitchell went missing and bystanders raised the alarm, he said.
The sea rescue craft Rotarian Schipper launched a search.
NSRI Bakoven rescue swimmers, the city’s fire and rescue services dive unit, government health EMS rescue squad, Life Healthcare response paramedics, law enforcement and a police dive unit responded.
“An extensive search revealed no sign of the missing man and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded to assist in the search, but despite the extensive sea, air, and shoreline search operation, no sign of the man has been found. A police dive unit will continue with an ongoing search operation,” Van Riet said.