Police give up search on drowned teenager

By STANLEY MWAHANGA

The body of a teenager who drowned in the Indian Ocean, Friday morning is yet to be found more than 24 hours later.

Despite a frantic overnight search by volunteer divers, rescue teams and the disaster response team from the local county, the body of Abdul Rauk Harith Baile, who drowned during a beach party is yet to be found.

Mombasa OCPD Kipkemboi Rop said the police had left the search to private search teams and volunteers because they lack trained personnel and equipment.

There were reports that a body had been sighted at the Nyali Bridge but it was later discovered to be that of another teenager.

According to some divers, the prolonged long search in retrieving the body has been attributed to the poor visibility of the seawater due to contamination, and the sea has been rough, said Matano Jaffer, a member of the diving rescue team.

The divers say they have had a difficult time pinpointing the exact last place where the teen was last spotted.

“The search is still on and the team has been looking for the body but there is nothing much we can do right now,” said Mr Jaffer.