eMalahleni (Witbank) – The body of a man, who did not surface after he jumped off a diving platform into the water at Witbank Dam, has been recovered by the local National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
Narrating events leading to the tragic incident, Travis Clack, NSRI Witbank Dam station commander, said: “At 14:54, Saturday, 27 April, NSRI Witbank Dam duty crew were activated following reports of a 35-year-old local man missing in the dam.
“He was believed to have fallen off the rocks into the water near to a local restaurant at Witbank dam and the man had not surfaced.”
Clack added: “Our NSRI rescue craft, Harvey’s Fibre Glass, and NSRI JetRib rescue craft, Rescue 35 Alpha, were launched and our NSRI rescue vehicle.”
The SA Police Service, Police Water Policing and Diving Services, and Legacy Ambulance Services also responded.
“On arrival on the scene, according to eyewitnesses, it was determined that the man may have jumped from a diving platform into the water where he had not surfaced after he had entered the water,” Clack said.
“Police divers were deployed into the water from our NSRI rescue craft and during a scuba dive search the body of the man was located and recovered onto our NSRI rescue craft by the Police divers.”
The body of the man was recovered by police divers about six metres under the water.
“Sadly, the man was declared deceased by paramedics,” Clack said.
“The body of the man was transported, aboard our NSRI rescue craft in the care of Police divers and NSRI crew, to the Witbank Yacht and Aquatic Club, where Police and Government Health Forensics Pathology Services took the body of the man into their care.”
Police have opened an Inquest docket.
“Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the deceased man,” Clack said.
“Our thoughts and care are with all those affected by this tragedy.”
