SA Rugby has sent condolences and offered support to French rugby and the family of 17-year-old player Medhi Narjissi, who was swept out to sea during a water recovery session at Cape Point on Wednesday.
Des nouvelles informations sur la disparition de Medhi Narjissi.
— Gauthier Baudin (@GauthierBaudin) August 8, 2024
Le jeune joueur a été emporté à Diaz Beach. Le porte-parole du National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Craig Lambinon explique que les rangers les ont alertés à 15h16 à propos d’une personne en difficulté dans l’eau,… https://t.co/vCzuplHWAU pic.twitter.com/60s5zDgtKU
The young player was a member of the French Under-18 team which is in South Africa to contest a tournament with the hosts, England, Ireland and Georgia. Narjissi was on an outing with the squad when incident occurred.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and the French rugby community for the tragic loss of Medhi,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union.
SA Rugby sends condolences to the French rugby and the family of U18 player Medhi Narjissi, who was swept out to sea during a recovery session at Cape Point on Wednesday - more here: https://t.co/PM4ZBdisY0 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/zmik0WTPej
— SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) August 8, 2024
“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. This devastating news has been felt deeply across the rugby community here in South Africa and around the world.”
Mr Alexander said that SA Rugby had offered every support it could to the French team and Mehdi’s family, who are en route to South Africa.
The French Rugby Federation announced on Wednesday that Mehdi was swept away by a wave as he and his team-mates were swimming at the Cape of Good Hope at around 16h00.
Medhi Narjissi, joueur de Toulouse et de l'équipe de France de rugby U18, porté disparu en Afrique du Sud
— L'ÉQUIPE (@lequipe) August 7, 2024
La FFR a annoncé que Medhi Narjissi, joueur du Stade Toulousain, avait été « emporté par une vague » ce mercredi en Afrique du Sud, alors qu'il se baignait avec d'autres… pic.twitter.com/ds2Gx0TOvZ
Emergency services were mobilised to conduct a search and rescue operation without success throughout Wednesday afternoon and evening.
The impact on the scheduling of the tournament – which kicks off at Stellenberg High School in Cape Town on Monday – has not been determined.