PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - An 18-year-old boy from Cape Town has died after falling from a cliff at Nature’s Valley near Plettenberg Bay, despite an extensive multi-agency rescue operation.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Plettenberg Bay, rescue teams were activated at approximately 10:47am on Thursday, 18 December, following reports that a male had fallen from a cliff at Bull Se Baai, near the Ouma and Oupa caves in the Garden Route National Park.
NSRI deputy station commander Ross Badenhorst said crews responded immediately by road and sea, while multiple emergency services were placed on alert.
These included the South African Police Service (SAPS), ER24 ambulance services, Western Cape Government Health EMS, the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter, and Police Water Policing and Diving Services.
Two NSRI rescue craft, The Courtenay’s Rescuer and Rescue Ray, were launched. A nearby private boat with NSRI crew members on board also responded to assist.
On arrival, rescuers began searching for the teenager, who had reportedly been hiking when he fell from a height into the sea and subsequently disappeared.
Badenhorst said the NSRI JetRIB Rescue Ray carefully navigated into one of the caves, timing incoming wave sets amid a rising tide. A rescue swimmer was deployed into the water to search inside the Ouma and Oupa caves.
"The rescue swimmer located the teenager inside the cave. He was unresponsive and had sustained critical injuries," said Badenhorst.
"Additional rescue swimmers and an NSRI doctor entered the water and, working in difficult conditions, secured the teenager into a floating stretcher. He was recovered onto the rescue craft but was sadly declared deceased."
The body was transported to the NSRI Plettenberg Bay Station 14 rescue base and handed over to SAPS and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Confirming the incident, SAPS Southern Cape Communication Officer Sergeant Christopher Spies said Plettenberg Bay police had opened an inquest docket in connection with the death.
"Preliminary reports indicate that emergency services were summoned after the boy disappeared in the water. His body was later retrieved, and he was declared dead by medical personnel on scene," Spies said.
He added that police were not at liberty at this stage to disclose the identity of the deceased and that investigations are continuing.
The NSRI conveyed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
Authorities have once again urged residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution when hiking along coastal cliffs, particularly in areas exposed to unpredictable sea conditions, tides, and weather.
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