Tragic drowning of three-year-old girl in Breede River prompts NSRI response
A three-year-old girl died in a drowning incident on the Breede River near Witsand, while NSRI crews also assisted a disabled boat off Mossel Bay in a separate operation.
Image: File
A three-year-old girl has died after being found floating in the Breede River near Witsand, prompting an emergency response from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), while in a separate incident days earlier, crews towed a disabled boat to safety off Mossel Bay.
NSRI Station 33 in Witsand was activated at about 2.50pm on Friday, February 27, following reports of a drowning in progress approximately 20km upstream from the Breede River mouth. Crew members launched the rescue craft JetRIB and responded alongside Western Cape Government Health EMS and the SA Police Service.
On arrival, rescuers found local community members performing CPR on the three-year-old child. NSRI medics assisted with resuscitation efforts and were joined by EMS paramedics. Despite extensive CPR attempts, the toddler was declared deceased at the scene.
“It appears that the child was found floating lifeless in the water before being rescued by family members,” the NSRI said.
Police have opened an inquest docket. The child’s body was taken into the care of SAPS and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. The family, who are from Malawi, have been offered condolences.
In a separate operation, NSRI Station 15 in Mossel Bay was alerted at about 1.14pm on Sunday, February 22, by Transnet National Ports Authority Mossel Bay Harbour Port Control after a private craft reported a vessel that had lost motor power offshore of De Bakke.
During follow-up enquiries, a local sailing yacht confirmed that a small inflatable craft with two people on board appeared to be adrift without motor power.
The NSRI duty crew launched the rescue craft St Blaise Rescuer and located the vessel. The skipper and a crew member were found safe but without propulsion.
Rescuers towed the craft to the Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club without incident. No injuries were reported and no further assistance was required.