A day out on Table Mountain ended in tragedy after a young man died in an apparent drowning at De Villiers Dam near Constantia Nek.

Rescue services were called after reports that a man had gone missing in the water.

NSRI and Emergency Teams Respond

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said it was alerted by Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services Control to a drowning in progress at De Villiers Dam.

NSRI rescue swimmers responded alongside South African Police Service members and Table Mountain National Park rangers.

Search Focuses on Where He Disappeared

The NSRI said the missing person was a 20-year-old man from Plumstead. Friends at the dam directed rescuers to the area where he was last seen.

He was reportedly swimming in shallow water when he disappeared.

NSRI rescue swimmers began searching, with police divers later taking over the underwater operation.

Body Recovered, Death Confirmed on Scene

Police divers located and recovered the man’s body from underwater. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene.

The NSRI said the body was handed to police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police opened an inquest docket.

Separate Drowning Search Under Way at Oudekraal

In another incident, the NSRI said teams are searching for a man reported missing after a drowning at Cosy Bay in Oudekraal, between Bakoven and Llandudno.

The NSRI said efforts included free-dive search operations, a surface search using a rescue craft, shoreline checks and an aerial search by the EMS Metro Rescue Drone Unit.

At the time of the update, there had been no sighting of the missing man. The NSRI said police divers and Police Sea Borderline Control were expected to continue the search, with police investigating.

The NSRI extended condolences to the family and friends of the man who died at De Villiers Dam and thanked all services involved for their coordinated response.