A 16-year-old teenager, who had been missing since Thursday, has been tragically found dead at the bottom of a cliff in the Hlathikhulu area on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. The teenager’s body was recovered on Sunday afternoon, bringing an end to the desperate search efforts.
According to Samantha Meyrick, the spokesperson for IPSS Medical Search and Rescue, reports of the missing teen were received on Saturday night.
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It was revealed that the youngster had last been seen on Thursday at around 2pm. Despite the local community’s extensive search efforts, the teen remained unlocated.
The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) K9 Search and Rescue team conducted a search of the area on Saturday, but unfortunately, they were unable to find any trace of the missing teenager.
Determined to bring closure to the family, IPSS Search and Rescue joined forces with the local community, Nduna Mbanjwa, and K9 Saints on Sunday morning to intensify the search efforts.
Utilizing a drone and two K9s, searches were conducted along the top and bottom of the cliffs in the vicinity where the teenager was last seen. It was K9 Ragnar and his handler Musa of K9 Saints who made the heartbreaking discovery near the bottom of one of the cliffs. Tragically, the teenager was declared deceased.
The body was carefully carried out of the dense bush with the assistance of community members and handed over to the local SAPS. The cause of death will now be subject to investigation by the authorities.
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IPSS Search and Rescue expressed their gratitude to the local community, led by Nduna Mbanjwa, K9 Saints, and Bhamshela and Nsuze SAPS, for their invaluable assistance in bringing closure to the grieving family.
This devastating incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community support and collaboration in times of crisis. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragic loss.
