by Mick the Ram

In tragic incident,  French Under-18 rugby international, Medhi Narjissi, has gone missing after being “swept away by a wave” while swimming near Caper Town, South Africa.

The 17-year-old was at Diaz Beach, Cape Point, when strong rip currents appear to have over-powered him and possibly carried him into the surf zone and then out to sea.

The shocking situation occurred during a recovery session with other players who are in the city to participate in a five-nation tournament from Monday 12 August, that also involves England, Ireland and Georgia.

Rescue services were mobilised with two sea rescue boats and a helicopter involved, but sadly there was no sign of the young player who had only recently joined Toulouse.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said Table Mountain National Parks (TMNP) rangers had alerted his team which had prompted an extensive search-and-rescue operation. He was able to report that from a vantage point above the cliffs, rangers had observed two people in the surf zone, in obvious difficulty struggling against rip currents.

One of these individuals had been able to get ashore, but the second person disappeared from view. He reported that divers had been despatched, but there were no signs of the teenager. Mr Lambinon added that the search conditions were challenging, with three-to-four-metre swells and a 15-knot northerly wind.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) issued a statement which read, “The FFR has learned with great emotion that Medhi Narjissi, Stade Toulouse player, who travelled to South Africa to compete in the International Series with the French men’s under-18 team, has disappeared. “This Wednesday, at around 4 pm, he was swept away by a wave, while he and his teammates were swimming in the sea, at the Cape of Good Hope and rescue services (boats and helicopters) are currently being mobilised to find Medhi.”

The federation added that supervisors are on site to assist the other players, who are naturally psychologically affected, but were unable to provide any further details on the situation.

South African rugby leaders sent condolences to the FFR and the player’s family, who were expected to arrive in South Africa in the evening of 8 August.

Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, said, “This devastating news has been felt deeply across the rugby community here in South Africa and around the world.

“We cannot begin to comprehend the sorrow the family must be feeling at this moment; please know that the entire rugby fraternity stands with you in mourning the loss of Medhi.”