KNYSNA NEWS - A man (22) is missing at sea after a wave swept him off rocks at Stilbaai, between Robberg Nature Reserve and Kranshoek, near Plettenberg Bay, at about midday on Friday 23 August, the NSRI reported.

A friend of the man, believed to be 30 years of age, tried to save him, but after all attempts failed, and with no cellphone signal at the remote location, he made the difficult decision to run for help.

After running a "significant distance", said the NSRI, he reached a farm house above cliffs, where he appealed to the occupants to raise the alarm.
An occupant of the farm house alerted Tech Security, and the NSRI were notified, along with the Western Cape government Health EMS Metro Control and the SAPS.

The NSRI rescue craft The Courtenay's Rescue and Free Runner were launched, and went to the scene.
NSRI rescue swimmers, an EMS rescue squad and an EMS ambulance, the SAPS, an NSRI rescue vehicle and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter
also responded.

Local Good Samaritan Duran de Villiers, on hearing of the incident, volunteered to take his boat, from Knysna, and a drone,
to the scene to assist the NSRI and the emergency services.

The NSRI said "it was determined that because of the significant distance that the man (friend of missing man) had needed to cover to reach the place where the alarm could be raised, a significant amount of time had lapsed since the incident had happened".
The friend had later been brought back to the scene by police, to point out exactly where his friend had been swept off rocks.

The NSRI said "during the incoming tide, sea conditions were found to be rough and extensive search efforts were commenced".
"An extensive sea, air and shoreline search has revealed no signs of the missing man."
SAPS divers were continuing to search for him.
The friend of the missing man, in a stable condition, was taken to hospital by an EMS ambulance to be treated for shock.
"Thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time," the NSRI said.

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