Omaruru drowning victim found near Okombahe

The remains of the 19-year-old, Lionel Tjipundi, who was swept away by the Turenda stream nearly two weeks ago, were found some 35km from Omaruru on Monday.
He was swept away along with the 17-year-old Jenifer Kandukira on 4 March after the stream, a tributary to the Omaruru River, started flowing heavily following torrential rain the night before.
The girl survived as she managed to grab onto a tree.
Tjipundi was a Grade 12 learner at SI !Gobs Secondary School.
Nampol crime investigations coordinator for Erongo Otillie Kashuupulwa told Nampa his remains were found by a livestock herder at Farm Etemba near Okombahe.
Tjipundi’s uncle Daniel Nainda also confirmed the discovery after identifying his remains at the Omaruru Police Station.
“If it was not for the gap between his teeth and a disfigured finger we would not have recognised him,” he said.
Tjipundi’s family, community members and a team of divers from Walvis Bay consisting of members of the Namibian Special Reserve Forces, Private Crisis Emergency Response and local police officers spent 10 anxious days searching for his body.
His remains were transferred to Walvis Bay for an autopsy.