Search for missing man swept away at Jukskei River continues

A 26-year-old man who went missing after being swept away by floodwaters in Fourways, north of Johannesburg, remains unaccounted for.

The man disappeared on New Year’s Day while attempting to cross a pipeline on the Jukskei River during a flash flood.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon says search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Lambinon says, “An NSRI Gauteng rescue team joined in the search on Sunday morning with NSRI Gauteng swift water rescuers divided into teams joining Police, SARZA and Fire and Rescue Services in the extensive ongoing search efforts along the Jukskei River and along the Klein Jukskei River searching in the directions of Fourways, Chartwell, Broadacres and Steyn City.”

“A police helicopter has been deployed to assist in this ongoing search operation. 20 kilometers of river were covered on Sunday and there remains no signs of the missing man,” he adds.

Authorities continue to urge caution around rivers and flood-prone areas during the rainy season.