Close family members gathered at Haakgat Beach in Melkbosstrand on Sunday as the body of missing Pierre Lotter and one of his three pet dachshunds washed up in the morning.
CAPE TOWN – Close family members gathered at Haakgat Beach in Melkbosstrand on Sunday as the body of missing Pierre Lotter and one of his three pet dachshunds washed up in the morning.
The 23-year-old from Kathu in the Northern Cape went missing last Tuesday when he and his uncle went fishing on Kid’s Rock in Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, along with three dachshund dogs.
The body of Lotter’s 47-year-old uncle washed up near the Blue Peter Hotel that same night. The deceased has not been named.
Concerned family members alerted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Table Bay after they had not heard from the men since 6.30pm on May 14.
At the time of their disappearance, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Hein Köhne believed the two men may have tried to swim across the channel.
At the scene on Sunday, Lotter’s girlfriend watched as authorities cordoned off the area around his lifeless body and declined to comment.
The DFA’s sister newspaper the Cape Argus was referred to the NSRI’s Craig Lambinon as a spokesperson for the family. However, Lambinon could not confirm the incident and said that no information would be made available.
“We are not releasing any information at this stage,” he said.
Western Cape police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
“The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. Melkbosstrand police registered an inquest for further investigation,” Swartbooi said.
“An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.”
The Big Bay Beach area is relatively safe, according to Connor Rautenbach, captain of the Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club.
The club was among several entities that responded to the scene when Lotter went missing, including community medics, Netcare 911 and ER24 ambulance services, provincial EMS and the Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services.
“It is a big family beach especially in the summer and on weekends, very family-oriented with people leaving their kids in the water with lifeguards watching them,” he said.
Rautenbach warned beachgoers to pay attention to the signs that warn of rip currents.
“This might expand your knowledge to look at what is in front of you to know where you should swim or not,” Rautenbach said.
Meanwhile, the police are appealing to anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
