Niël Terblanché
The Namibian Police in the Erongo Region have launched an urgent search operation for 53-year-old Robby Michael from Omaruru, who is suspected to have drowned in the area of Mile 72 north of Henties Bay sometime during Saturday night.
The alarm was raised on Sunday morning when a passerby discovered a white extended-cab Toyota bakkie partially submerged in the sea with no occupants in sight and no one in the immediate vicinity.
Police officers who responded to a report of a possible tragedy arrived at the scene and pieced together a puzzling chain of events that suggested that an accident might have occurred.
According to preliminary observations, it is suspected that Michael had parked his vehicle along the coastline, possibly seeking a moment of relaxation. However, an unexpected high wave is believed to have swept the vehicle into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The vehicle itself sustained severe damage during the incident and had to be carefully towed out of the water by authorities.
The preliminary investigation indicates that Michael drove to Mile 72 on Saturday in the company of two friends to go fishing. After a day of fishing his friends headed back to Henties Bay where they went to sleep.
According to the Police in the Erongo Region, the search for the missing man commenced with a sense of urgency with officers and volunteers combing the vicinity in hopes of locating Micheal. No trace could be found of him when the sun set on Sunday evening but the search is set to continue today.
The Police have issued an appeal to anyone with information regarding Michael’s whereabouts to come forward with information that could aid in the search.
