The Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) R44 Robinson Helicopter has arrived at Umzumbe Beach in Hibberdene to assist in finding Armaan Khan, who is believed to have drowned when a rip current swept him out to sea on Saturday.
Prem Balram, of Rusa, and his crew flew 129km to Umzumbe Beach today in search of the 13-year-old.
Balram said the Rusa Operations Centre received several calls from the family and the public for aerial assistance in locating the teenager’s body after several days of unsuccessful searches.
Armaan’s uncle, Asif Khan, 36, a metro police officer based in south Durban, died a hero when he tried to save the teen. His body was recovered shortly afterwards.
In an earlier interview with the POST, Armaan’s dad, Saleem Adam, said his son and five others were in the water when they got into difficulty because of a rip-current.
“Ten of our family members went to the beach on Saturday. At about 12.20pm, seven of us were in the water when Armaan was caught in the current and pulled out to sea.I watched as this happened but I was not close enough to him to help him.
“Everyone was frantic. Armaan’s uncle, Asif Khan (his mother’s brother), tried to save him but he too got into difficulty. We managed to pull him out and despite resuscitation efforts, he passed on. Surfers were also trying to help Armaan, but they lost sight of him,” said Adam.
“A search was conducted by the Hibberdene Community Policing Forum and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI). They searched in earnest for my son but there was another drowning incident and they were called out to San Lameer. They came back later and searched again but there was no sign of my son.
“It is the most empty, horrible feeling. It is hard to describe our emotions right now. My mind is unsettled as I have lost a gem in my life. Armaan was my youngest child and he was my everything.”