Man drowns after jumping off Swakopmund jetty

A Swakopmund man drowned after jumping off the town’s jetty in a suspected suicide on Thursday night.

Erongo police spokesperson chief inspector Ileni Shapumba says the body of Lukas Shillimungweni (28) is yet to be recovered.

The Namibian Navy, the police, and community members are continuing their search efforts.

Quinton Liebenberg, the owner of Jetty 1905 Restaurant, says the incident took place at around 22h35 when a staff member heard knocking near the restaurant’s front door.

Upon investigation, staff members found Shillimungweni removing his clothes and climbing onto the window-washing platform outside.

The employees immediately tried talking him down.

“The victim said he was going to jump, and even gave us his brother’s phone number to call,” Liebenberg says.

Despite their efforts and quick response from security staff, Shillimungweni jumped into the ocean.

The waves were strong, and despite initially grabbing a jetty pillar, Shillimungweni was swept away by the current.

Sean Naude from the Namibian Marshall Rangers, responded to the scene.

He described the ocean conditions as extremely dangerous.

“We saw him struggling, but it was too risky to go in without proper support,” he says.

Despite numerous attempts to locate Shillimungweni, no body has been recovered.

Naude says the search will resume on Friday.

“We will dive again and hope for better conditions,” he says.

Seef Odendaal of Coastland Safety and Security Services on Fiday praised the restaurant staff members’ efforts.

“The restaurant staff did everything they could. They tried to talk to him, and even had life jackets ready, but the ocean was too rough.”