Twenty rugby players swept out to sea

One man drowned and five others are missing after 20 members of a rugby team were swept out to sea off south-eastern South Africa, a rescue official said today.

John Fletcher, co-ordinator for the Coastal Water Rescue Squad, said his volunteers were able to rescue 15 of the players near Port Elizabeth yesterday, but were unable to resuscitate one of them.

He added that five men remain unaccounted for.

Mr Fletcher said the players, from a local team, had been swimming after a beach rugby practice.

He blamed strong winds which created rough seas and an unusually strong rip current.