British couple drown in South Africa tourist hotspot

A couple believed to be from Northern Ireland have been found dead, washed up on a beach in South Africa.

28 year old John Rodgers and his 26 year old wife Lynette from Ballygowan drowned after getting into trouble swimming in rough seas at Plettenberg Bay.

On Friday, a member of the public called the NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew at 6.05pm, saying a man’s body was found in shallow surf on Robberg Beach, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said in a statement on Saturday.

Two women discovered Lynette’s body later, around 200 metres from the John’s.

It’s suspected that they had gone for a swim shortly after arriving in Plettenberg Bay for a holiday.

On arrival on the scene CPR efforts were commenced on both persons but sadly despite extensive CPR efforts the NSRI doctor declared both persons deceased.

Mrs Rodgers, a physiotherapist, posted a message on Facebook on Monday thanking her loved ones for coming to her wedding.

The couple, who were in their 20s, were married in Holywood last Saturday.

However, police in South Africa do not suspect foul play and are treating the deaths as a drowning.

Rescue workers said the sea was rough at the time, with strong rip-currents.

John and Lynette Rodgers on their wedding day just days before the tragedy.

North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne, who knows the family, said he was “shocked and saddened” by news of the couple’s deaths.

“There is widespread shock across the local community in Holywood at this time, particularly as the young lady was born in Holywood, and attended the local schools in the area, and was from a very well respected family”.

‘The emergency services and those involved have expressed sincerest condolences’.

A spokeswoman said: “We are providing assistance to both families at this extremely hard time, and will remain in contact with local authorities”.