Divers are searching for a man who went missing in the Vaal Dam in the Free State on Sunday.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Vaal Dam station commander Jake Manten said the rescue crew received a report of a drowning in progress on Sunday at around 07:45. The incident happened at the Wilge River inlet to the Vaal Dam at a farm near Oranjeville in the Free State.
"On arrival at the scene, we determined that a male, aged in his thirties, believed to be from Malawi, reportedly launched on a rowing fishing canoe to take out fishing lines to the dam," Manten said.
According to witnesses, the canoe capsized and the man disappeared under water.
"Bystanders had attempted rescue efforts but the swollen, flooded river and debris floating rapidly downstream hampered efforts," Manten said.
"Our NSRI rescue swimmers entered the water to search but with the river in flood and with floating debris rapidly flowing downstream we were only able to conduct shoreline and surface water search efforts."
The Police Dive Unit was activated and an extensive search revealed no sign of the missing man. The search was expected to continue.
Do you want to know more about this topic? Sign up for one of News24's 33 newsletters to receive the information you want in your inbox. Special newsletters are available to subscribers.