Emergency services have suspended a search operation for a 54-year-old Umhlanga businessman who is presumed to have drowned at Hazelmere Dam during a birthday celebration on Friday.According to witnesses, the man was spending time at the dam with friends when a jet-ski was reportedly blown away by strong winds.In an attempt to retrieve the drifting jet-ski, he entered the water and tried to swim towards it.However, he went underwater and did not resurface.

Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) deployed a helicopter to assist in the search, with metro police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) also joining the coordinated rescue efforts.

Despite extensive efforts, the operation was hampered by adverse weather conditions, including heavy winds, rain, and poor visibility, which made aerial and water-based searches difficult and ultimately unsafe to continue.RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram confirmed that the search had to be suspended due to the worsening weather.He added that, weather permitting, search teams were expected to resume operations on Saturday morning in hopes of locating the missing man.

The incident has left friends and emergency responders concerned, as the circumstances suggest a tragic accident during what was meant to be a celebratory occasion.Authorities have not yet confirmed recovery, and investigations into the exact sequence of events are ongoing.