The heroic actions of a 17-year-old Gqeberha teenager Curtis Samson to try and save someone’s life cost him his life.
On Friday, 10 October Curtis was fishing with other kids on the riverbanks of the Swartkops River when one of the teenagers fell into the water.
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He jumped into the water, trying to save the teenager but he disappeared.
The search for him continued throughout the weekend and his body was recovered on Monday, 13 October.
NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said on Friday their crew was activated following reports of a 17-year-old boy who disappeared underwater.
“It appeared that a group of children were fishing along the riverbanks since early morning.
“They believe that some of the children were swimming when a child stepped off a ledge by a sandbank and seemed to disappear underwater,” said Lambinon.
He said the local male teenager had gone into the water to assist, but they believe that the kid had managed to get to the riverbank safely.
When the teenager reached the kid at the riverbank, he may then have stepped off the same ledge, by the sandbank, and disappeared.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said Curtis’ body was discovered while the police team was familiarising itself with their newly acquired SAPS chopper, Airbus H125, which is based in the Airwing in Gqeberha.
“They spotted the two bodies floating in the Swartkops River, Gqeberha on Monday 13 Ocotber,” he said.
Nkohli said the allegation is that on Friday, 10 October 2025 at about 10am, friends were swimming in the Swartkops River, when Curtis got into trouble and disappeared in the water.
“The SAPS Search and Rescue team from K9 Unit was activated, and it resumed with the search and recovery operation, with the assistance from other stakeholders.
“The operation continued over the weekend, with scheduled stops during sunset,” said Nkohli.
He said moments after the activation of the chopper, the crew spotted two bodies floating in separate areas of the river.
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“The first body was identified as Curtis Samson. The second body was an African male and is yet to be identified.”
“Police divers retrieved the two bodies. Police opened two separate inquest dockets for further investigation,” said Nkohli.
