Man drowns in high tides while swimming in Indian Ocean

People swim in the Indian Ocean. A Form Four student from Muhuri Muchiri Secondary School drowned at Mtwapa Creek, Indian Ocean on April 8, 2019. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Msambweni OCPD Joseph Chebusit said the incident happened at around 6pm on the Diani Beach.

  • He said efforts to retrieve his body did not bear immediately fruit as the tides were very high.

  • The OCPD warned beach-goers to be very careful while swimming in the ocean, saying it is not advisable to swim past 6pm.

A young man drowned while swimming in the Indian Ocean after he was caught up by high tides on Saturday evening.

Msambweni OCPD Joseph Chebusit said the incident happened at around 6pm on the Diani Beach along Bidi Badu Beach Restaurant in Kwale County.

Mr Chebusit said the man in his 20's was showing some people how to swim before he was swept away by the strong tides.

The security boss said they received a distress call from Diani Beach and they responded immediately and begun searching for the man.

"According to people we talked to, he was an experienced swimmer but unfortunately he was overwhelmed by the receding tides that were very strong," the OCPD said.

He said efforts to retrieve his body did not bear immediately fruit as the tides were very high.

"We retrieved his body at 10pm after a long search as the water became rough," said Mr Chebusit.

Mr Chebusit warned beach-goers to be very careful while swimming in the ocean, saying it is not advisable to swim past 6pm.

The body was taken to Msambweni County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem and identification.