GQEBERHA – Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Brigadier John Lebok commended the search and rescue team responsible for the recovery of a suspected suicide victim who plunged to his death off the Bloukrans Bridge between Sunday, 06 November and Monday, 07 November 2022.

It is alleged that on Monday, at about 15:00, SAPS Stormsriver was alerted to a suspicious motor bike that was parked partially in bushes near the Bloukrans Bridge. Immediately a search was conducted to locate the owner of the bike.

With the use of binoculars, police spotted something in the bushes below the bridge which raised a suspicion. Early on Tuesday morning, Gqeberha K9 Search and Rescue Unit, SAPS Diving Unit, Metro EMS (Gqeberha and Sarah Baartman) and SAPS Stormsriver members were deployed to the bridge. The Search and Rescue team established that the only way to get to the body was through the use of air support.

On Wednesday, 09 November 2022, retrieval attempts were suspended due to strong winds and rain.

Today, at about 11:30, with the assistance of SA Air Force from Gqeberha, the K9 Search and Rescue Unit and the SAPS Diving unit, the recovery operation commenced. Almost three hours later (14:15), the body of a 47-year-old was airlifted from a depth of 180m from the top of the bridge. The bridge is 216m high.

The deceased was identified as Matthys Cornelis Bothma from Gauteng.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Brig Lebok attributed this successful recovery to the expertise and experience of all involved. ’This was one of the most difficult recoveries that our members have undertaken. As part of their duties, they risked their own lives by abseiling from such a precarious height. It is clear that these members are well skilled and trained in their field of search and rescue. The services of the SA Air Force is appreciated and we thank them for their assistance.  The efforts of the entire team is highly commendable,’ added Brig Lebok. 

Source: South African Police Service