28-Year-old man drowns at Bloubergstrand Beach after being caught in rip current
A 28-year-old man died after being pulled from the surf on Wednesday afternoon.
Image: File
A 28-year-old man has died after getting into difficulty in the surf at Bloubergstrand Beach in Table View on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), emergency services were activated at about 3.37pm following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress.
NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander Rowan Marais said City of Cape Town lifeguards arrived first on scene and assisted family members in recovering the man from the water and bringing him to the shoreline.
“CPR efforts were commenced and were joined by paramedics,” Marais said.
Despite extensive resuscitation attempts, the man was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
The response involved multiple agencies, including City of Cape Town lifeguards, Big Bay Surf Lifesaving lifeguards, NSRI crews from Melkbosstrand and Table Bay, community medics, Netcare 911, ER24, Western Cape Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Service and City of Cape Town law enforcement.
Lifeguards from Big Bay Surf Lifesaving launched an inflatable rescue craft while NSRI Melkbosstrand prepared to launch two rescue boats. NSRI rescue swimmers and additional volunteers also responded to assist.
According to the NSRI, the deceased man, described as an Ethiopian national living in Atlantis, had been swimming and may have been caught in rip currents.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
The body has been taken into the care of police and the Western Cape Government’s Forensic Pathology Service.
The NSRI conveyed condolences to the man’s family.