Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS -  An eyewitness who was camping at De Bakke and witnessed the drowning tragedy of two teenagers from Mossel Bay described the scene as being terrible. 

Bianca van der Merwe says the rescuers attempted to revive the 18-year-old Nqobile Ncikana on Saturday 25 April after bringing her out of the water, but after several minutes, a silver blanket was brought out, "signalling the worst". 

Although the circumstances surrounding the incident are not known, the teens reportedly got caught in a rip current. 

Van der Merwe says rescue teams from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) continued searching through the night for the 14-year-old Ayanda Sikhuphela. 

The police divers and NSRI members found his body near the rocks the following morning, on Sunday 26 April. 

Ayanda was a learner of Hillcrest Seconday School. 

 Ayanda Sikhuphela and Nqobile Ncikana.  Photos: Supplied

This week, his family described him as a bubbly and cheerful child who loved making jokes. He had dreams of becoming a doctor and enjoyed boxing and playing soccer. 

Nqobile attended Indwe Secondary School last year. Her mother, Thobisa, says she had plans to attend college this year, for which she had already registered. 

Both teenagers were members of the Ikhaya Boxing Club in Mossel Bay. Their coach, Lazola Thole, says they were among the best in the club and highly competitive. 

The funeral arrangements are under way. Ayanda is to be laid to rest in Mossel Bay on 9 May, while Nqobile will be buried in the Eastern Cape next weekend. 

Previous articles:

Identities of drowned Mossel Bay teens confirmed

Bodies of two teenagers retrieved from De Bakke Beach

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