Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Nearly two weeks since a man disappeared into the waters at the Knysna Heads, his body has been discovered.

According to Jerome Simonis, NSRI Knysna station commander, the body was recovered on Sunday. 

"At 16:38 on Sunday 4 September, NSRI Knysna duty crew, the SA Police Services and a police dive unit were activated following eye-witness reports of a body submerged in the water near to the shoreline at Fountain Point near to East Head Cafe," he said.

"The NSRI rescue craft Jaytee Rescuer IV was launched, accompanied by police divers. A body, believed to be that of a local male, from Somalia, who went missing in the water two weeks ago in that vicinity, was located and recovered by police divers in a free-dive operation. 

"The body was brought to the shoreline and taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services."

At the time of the man's disappearance, NSRI Knysna deputy station commander Grant van Staden reported that five local Somalian nationals were swimming when one of the men appeared to get into difficulty in the water. 

His friends threw an NSRI pink rescue buoy towards him, but he was unable to reach it. One of the friends launched into the water to try to help, but he got into difficulty himself and was forced to return to the rocks to safety.

"NSRI rescue swimmers, SA Police Services, Community Police Forum members, Knysna Law Enforcement officers and SANParks rangers responded," said Van Staden in his initial report. "In an outgoing tide, NSRI rescue swimmers conducted a sweeping line free-dive search. SANParks rangers conducted search efforts from their rigid inflatable craft. Personnel on the scene conducted shoreline search efforts.

"Despite an extensive search there [were] no signs of the missing man. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time."