Search and rescue teams are working tirelessly to find 17-year-old Ryder Kossatz, who got swept off rocks on the shoreline of Llandudno yesterday afternoon.
According to a statement by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon:
“At 15:44 on Wednesday (9 August), the NSRI Hout Bay and NSRI Bakoven duty crews were activated by NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) following eye-witness reports of a male teenager caught in rip currents after being swept off rocks on the shoreline below the Llandudno Sandy Bay parking area.”
Lambinon said the NSRI rescue swimmers responded swiftly to the scene. An NSRI rescue craft was launched while police and the Western Cape Government Health emergency services EMS) rescue squad and ambulance were alerted.
A Skymed rescue helicopter was also launched to assist.
“On arrival on the scene, an extensive search commenced,” said Lambinon, adding that the teen was last seen in “heavy sea surf approximately 300 to 400 metres off-shore”.
He added that it appeared Kossatz had been in shallow surf on rocks on the shoreline with friends when a wave swept him off his feet. “We believe he had attempted to swim with sea currents to escape the rocky shoreline. Despite an extensive sea, air and shoreline search there remained no sign of the teenager [by the end of Wednesday].”
Efforts are underway with an extensive search using a rescue drone with Thermal Imaging Camera Technology (FLIR).
“The family of missing Ryder Kossatz of Hout Bay, have extended their heartfelt thanks to all for the overwhelming support they have received since Ryder went missing at Llandudno on Wednesday afternoon. The family has respectfully requested privacy in this difficult time.”
A short while ago, Lt Col Jerome Syster, the Station Commander of Hout Bay Police Station, informed People’s Post that the, spearheaded by Police Dive Unit, was still underway.
