Tragedy as man found dead in Touw River in Wilderness

A man has died after being found trapped in the Touw River in Wilderness early on Friday morning.

The Wilderness duty crew of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) was activated at 02:56 on Friday, 4 September, following a request for assistance from police.

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Police reported that a man was trapped in the river.

Appeared to be lifeless

NSRI rescue swimmers and police divers from the Water Policing and Diving Service (WPDS) responded, along with members of the George Fire and Rescue Service, Western Cape Government Health EMS and police.

On arrival, rescuers found the man appearing to be lifeless in the water.

Using an NSRI CROC, a small floating rescue craft, NSRI rescue swimmers and police divers reached the man.

Police divers, assisted by the NSRI rescue swimmers, recovered the man to the shoreline.

Declared deceased

Paramedics sadly declared him deceased at the scene.

The man was an unidentified adult.

His body was handed over to police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket, and the circumstances surrounding the man’s death are being investigated.