Renthia Kaimbi
Search teams are looking for a teenage boy who went missing after jumping into the sea at the Swakopmund Jetty on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident was reported on Tuesday at about 15h00. Police said the boy, believed to be between 17 and 18 years old, entered the water under unclear circumstances.
Erongo police spokesperson Judith Shomungula said officers responded after receiving information from a witness.
At the scene, police spoke to a woman who said she had greeted the boy shortly before the incident.
She described him as dark in complexion, wearing grey school-like trousers and a grey jacket, and carrying a backpack.
The witness said moments after their interaction, she heard a shout that the boy had jumped into the sea. She saw him in the water, where he waved and smiled before disappearing.
Search efforts started immediately, but the boy has not been seen since.
Police found a backpack at the jetty believed to belong to the missing boy.
Inside were a bottle of oshikundu (an oshiwambo fermented drink), a Chinese-made radio and scrap materials. No identification documents were found.
Shomungula said police have shared images of the bag and its contents to help identify the boy. She urged anyone who may recognise the items or the description to contact the Swakopmund police or any nearby station.
The search has involved several teams.
The Namibian Navy responded on Wednesday and deployed a boat from Naval Base P.N. Sacharia in Walvis Bay. Navy divers searched the water with support from drones before returning to base.
Police divers have since been deployed, and officers are patrolling beaches north of the jetty.
The West Coast Guardians, part of the Namibia Marshall Rangers, have also joined the operation. They have shifted their search area towards the Mole and are entering the water from the shoreline to support efforts.
Police said investigations are ongoing and the search continues as authorities try to identify the boy and locate him.
