The bodies of two United Kingdom nationals who drowned at Woody Cape beach near Alexandria last Thursday were returned to their families overseas yesterday morning, according to police.
The bodies of two United Kingdom nationals who drowned at Woody Cape beach near Alexandria last Thursday were returned to their families overseas yesterday morning, according to police.
Police are still waiting for post-mortem results. They have not yet released the names of the two young women.
Beach goers were advised to be cautious around the coast as a result of the tragic incident. The public should be extremely cautious around the coast this week, the National Sea Rescue Institute advised, as details emerged about the drowning at Woody Cape beach near Alexandria on Thursday 4 December.
The women were among five people who went out for a swim at the Woody Cape beach.
"The three survivors are a 41-year-old man and a male and a female, both 18 years old," the NSRI statement read. The five were among a group of 43 South African and British health volunteers staying together at Woody Cape, 39km west of Kenton-on-Sea.
The drowning took place at the end of day one of the Port Elizabeth to East London surf-ski challenge. The stage ended at Woody Cape and the NSRI said its own volunteers assisting with the race were also staying at the Woody Cape Backpackers lodge.
They responded to cries for help around 8pm, the NSRI said. The five were being swept out to sea by rip currents.
"NSRI rescue swimmers went into the surf… reaching them 100 meters out to sea and managing to rescue three safely," the statement said.
The bodies have been taken to the Grahamstown mortuary, where the post-mortem will be carried out.
The British embassy has been informed and police said representatives visited the area on Friday. Police have opened inquest dockets for investigation.
