By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean boy was swept away at sea in South Africa after he was reportedly overwhelmed by the tides while swimming.

The fourteen-year-old Tawana Musimurimwa reportedly was overpowered by sea waves last week at Bloubergstrand beach in Cape Town.

Search for the teenager’s remains is still underway. The search began on Saturday, March 7. Cape Town’s National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Lifeguards Station commander Peter O’Hanlon said City of Cape Town lifesavers, the Health Department and Fire and Rescue Services embarked on the search to find the body without success.

“On arrival at the scene, an extensive sea, air and shoreline search commenced, including rescue swimmers deployed into the surf conducting free dive sweeping line search efforts.

“Despite the extensive search, there has been no sign of the 14-year-old male, who reportedly got into difficulty in the surf while swimming and was swept out to sea by rip currents before disappearing in the surf line,” said O’Hanlon.

Tawana’s uncle Lloyd Madhinha, 38, explained to H-Metro that along with his 17-year-old brother, Tawana had spent the day at the beach with another uncle, who had recently returned from Johannesburg.

“For now, we believe our boy will come. “It happened on the evening of Saturday 7th March when they went to the beach as they were very happy that their uncle had visited from Johannesburg. “As they were playing in the water, there was a big wave, which swept them away, but Tino and his uncle escaped.

“There was a certain lady, a professional swimmer who tried her best to rescue him, but another wave pushed her out, while Tawana was pushed in more.

“Until now we haven’t found him and on Sunday all the church congregants were at the beach,” explained Madhinha. “His uncle had just returned and they were so excited.

“When we got there, witnesses told us he was swept away by a big wave and people had tried to help him, but couldn’t get to him. “We are still in shock and waiting for them to retrieve his body,” he added. Tawana’s father Munyararadzi Musimurimwa and mother Florence Musimurimwa are said to be receiving support from church members as well as the Cape Town community and rescuers.

“The family is not so well, but we put our hope to God and our AFM Tabernacle of Prayer is standing in the gap,” said Madhinha.