A joint rescue operation in Humansdorp ended in tragedy after two bodies were recovered from a milk cooling tank on a local dairy farm on Wednesday afternoon.
According to police, the operation was launched at approximately 16:29 on 20 May 2026 by the South African Police Service Search and Rescue Unit together with Humansdorp EMS, EMS Training and the Humansdorp Fire Rescue Unit.
Rescue teams implemented a specialised 3:1 rope system to access the confined tank.
Constable Emilio George, who was selected for the operation due to his build, was fitted with a long-line and full-face breathing apparatus before being lowered into the tank alongside the spiral cooling rod.
During the operation, rescuers discovered the bodies of two dairy farm employees face-down in the water inside the tank.
The victims, aged 27 and 54, were carefully removed through the narrow opening and handed over to emergency medical personnel, who declared both men dead at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are expected to form part of an ongoing investigation.
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