Search for drowned teenager in Springfield Park

The family of 13-year-old Luntu Khawula (pictured) contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) this afternoon (Monday) requesting assistance to locate his body after he drowned while swimming with friends yesterday.

Reaction Officers proceeded to the Umgeni River in Springfield Park – KZN where they met Khawula’s family and members of the community. It was established that the teenager was swimming with approximately five friends in the Umgeni River at approximately 10:00 yesterday when he experienced difficulty and disappeared underwater.

His friends fled and sought assistance from the teenager’s family and residents of the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement in Clare Estate – KZN. The RUSA Helicopter was expected to conduct an aerial search but was grounded due to inclement weather conditions and poor visibility.

The search is expected to continue at first light tomorrow morning.