PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Police have appealed for information after the body of an unidentified man was found in the surf zone at Lookout Rocks near the Whale Tail, soon after lunchtime yesterday, 18 March.

NSRI station commander Jaco Kruger said in a statement that a duty crew was activated at 13:33 following reports by lifeguards of a body in the water.

Kruger said the circumstances surrounding the man's death remained unclear and police were investigating.

An inquest docket has been opened by police.

Kruger said fishermen on the shoreline had alerted Bitou shark spotters who were nearby, reporting seeing a man floating face down in the water.

'Went into water from rocks'

It appears that the man had gone into the water from the rocks. Shark spotters alerted Bitou municipal lifeguards.

Lifeguards and Bitou Beach Control responded and once on the scene requested the assistance of the NSRI.

A crew from NSRI Plettenberg Bay Station 14 responded and the NSRI rescue craft Ray Farnham Rescuer was launched.

The SA Police Service and Western Cape Government Health EMS were activated and responded.

“On arrival on the scene NSRI found Bitou lifeguards in attendance in the surf zone," Kruger said.

“They had secured the body of the man, that was then recovered from the water onto the NSRI rescue craft. Sadly the man was found to be deceased."

Forensic Service

The body was brought to the NSRI rescue base where EMS paramedics attended to it, and the body was then taken into the care of police and the government Forensic Pathology Service.

Anyone that can assist the police in identifying the man and provide information on the circumstances surrounding this incident can call the Plettenberg Bay Police Station at 044 501 1900.

Kruger commended the local anglers who raised the alarm with the shark spotters and the “swift response and cooperation of all involved”.

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