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Thokozani Mthethwa.
Supplied by the City of Cape Town
- Muizenberg’s missing lifeguard, Thokozani Mthethwa, was found dead after falling from a rescue sled.
- He was praised as an exceptional person who sacrificed his life to save others.
- He fell from the sled of a jet ski on his way to rescue.
Hopes of finding the missing lifeguard Thokozani Mthethwa alive were dashed when his body was found on a beach in Cape Town after a three-day search.
Mthethwa was on a sled towed by a jet ski that he and a senior lifeguard were using for a rescue on Saturday.
His body was found early Monday night on the shoreline between Sonwabe and Sunrise Beach. Emergency services arrived at the scene, but paramedics declared him dead.
I was 23 years old.
“We are deeply saddened by the results of the extensive three-day search conducted by teams of internal staff and external partners, and would like to extend our thanks to all parties who came together and spared no resources, working tirelessly together to find Thokozani since he disappeared. “the city of Cape Town said in a statement.
Thokozani Mthethwa. (Supplied by the city of Cape Town)
News24 provided by the City of Cape Town
“The impact Thokozani has had on our lives will always be remembered. We honor him for his bravery and service and hope that, as the season progresses, we will be spared further loss of life.”
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Councilor Zahid Badroodien, a member of the mayor’s health and community services committee, said that at the time of the incident, Mthethwa and the main rescuer had set out to help the person in distress on Saturday afternoon, but were he thought Mthethwa had fallen from the sled. 50 to 100 meters from shore and then disappeared into the water.
A massive operation that involved lifeguards, the National Maritime Rescue Institute (NSRI), law enforcement, the Fire and Rescue Service, Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Medical Services were all activated to find him.
Muizenberg Beach was closed while crews worked to find it.
NSRI said that at the time of the incident, first responders from NSRI Simon’s Town and the City of Cape Town were responding to assist three kites in difficulty offshore between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay.
The kite surfers were helped to disembark safely and needed no further assistance.
