Fatal drownings mar New Year’s Day at Western Cape beaches
NSRI Gordon’s Bay rescue crews and City of Cape Town lifeguards were among multiple emergency services responding to a fatal drowning at Strand Beach on New Year’s Day.
Image: Supplied
Two men died in separate drowning incidents at Western Cape beaches on New Year’s Day, while a teenage boy was resuscitated and rushed to hospital following a near-drowning.
At Langebaan Main Beach, a 26-year-old man from Burundi was declared dead after being pulled from the water on Thursday afternoon. National Sea Rescue Institute Mykonos station commander Nic Stevens said the NSRI duty crew was activated at 5.02pm following reports of CPR in progress.
The man was reportedly found floating lifeless in the water by a kiteboarder, who brought him to shore. A fellow kiteboarder, a doctor visiting from Germany, initiated CPR. NSRI Mykonos crew, lifeguards, West Coast Medical Rescue and the SA Police Service responded, but despite extensive efforts by paramedics, the man was declared dead. An inquest docket has been opened and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Earlier in the day in Knysna, a 13-year-old boy was rescued and resuscitated at Leisure Isle after getting into distress while swimming. NSRI Knysna station commander Jerome Simonis said the duty crew was activated at 11.17am following a request for assistance from lifeguards who had already begun CPR.
NSRI medics and ER24 paramedics responded, and during resuscitation efforts a pulse was restored. The teenager, believed to be a local, was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition. He is believed to have suffered a medical condition while in the water. Lifeguards were commended for their swift response, which contributed to saving his life.
In another fatal incident at Strand Beach, a 38-year-old man from Elsies River drowned earlier on New Year’s Day. NSRI Gordon’s Bay crews and City of Cape Town lifeguards were alerted at about 9.35am after reports of a drowning in progress. An extensive search was launched along the beach and in the surf zone.
The man was later found floating lifeless in the water and was recovered to the shore, where lifeguards and NSRI crews initiated CPR, assisted by multiple emergency services. Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene. Police have opened an inquest docket and the body was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
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