DURBAN — Local authorities have launched investigations following two separate Durban body recoveries conducted on Sunday. Members of the SAPS Search and Rescue teams, alongside eThekwini Lifeguards, responded to urgent calls after unknown males were found floating in the Umgeni River and at North Beach.
The first incident occurred when Durban SAPS Search and Rescue units were dispatched to the Sydenham area. Responding to reports of a body in the water, teams located an unknown male, estimated to be approximately 36 years old, floating in the Umgeni River near Clare Estate. Utilizing specialized equipment, including a Rescue Stokes Basket, the recovery team safely extracted the body from the river and transported it up to the adjacent roadway.
Representatives from Sydenham SAPS took custody of the remains at the scene. According to spokespersons for the Sydenham SAPS, an inquest docket has been officially opened and registered at the Sydenham Police Station to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.
In a separate and distinct tragedy, Durban SAPS Search and Rescue collaborated with eThekwini Lifeguards to respond to a reported drowning at North Beach. The joint task force discovered the body of an unknown adult male floating in the shorebreak adjacent to the North Beach Pier.
Emergency personnel pulled the victim from the water, secured him in a body bag, and transported the remains to the Promenade, where he was handed over to members of the Durban Central SAPS. Authorities noted a significant detail at the scene, reporting that the victim had a white cord tied tightly around his neck. Spokespersons for Durban Central SAPS confirmed that a separate inquest docket has been registered at their station to investigate this second incident.
Both incidents are currently under investigation as the respective police stations work to identify the deceased and notify their next of kin. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding either incident to come forward as the inquests proceed.
