The South African authority sent, in a statement, its “deepest condolences to the family” of the young rugby player who disappeared at sea on Wednesday.
Medhi Narjissi, a player on the French under-18 team, has gone missing at sea in South Africa, on the sidelines of an international tournament, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced on Wednesday. “This Wednesday, around 4 p.m., he was swept away by a wave, while he and his teammates were coming out of a swim at the seaside, at the Cape of Good Hope,” the FFR announced in a press release.
“Despite extensive searches at sea, from the air and on the coast, there is still no sign of the missing teenager”said South African Craig Lambinon, spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute. On Thursday, the South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby), through its president Mark Alexander, addressed its “deepest condolences to the family and the French rugby community for the tragic loss of Medhi”.
“This devastating news has been deeply felt by the rugby community”
And the leader, who specifies that the Narjissi family is on its way to South Africa, added: “We cannot imagine the sadness the family must be feeling at this time. Please know that the entire rugby community is with you in mourning the loss of Medhi. This devastating news has been deeply felt by the rugby community here in South Africa and around the world.”
Also read: Rugby: who is Medhi Narjissi, the 17-year-old player missing at sea in South Africa?
A player from Stade Toulousain trained in Agen, Narjissi, aged 17 and son of former hooker Djalil Narjissi, was playing in the International Series, a youth competition organised from 31 July to 21 August in South Africa. In addition, his club announced the establishment of a “psychological support and assistance unit” for his young teammates.
