Durban — Emergency services in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape responded to at least five separate drownings and near drownings over the weekend.
On Sunday afternoon, Medi Response responded to Thompson’s Bay, Ballito in KZN, following reports of a fatal drowning of a father who drowned while trying to save a child.
Medi Response spokesperson Paul Herbst said that upon the arrival of rescue crews, an individual was spotted floating in the ocean.
“Rescue swimmers entered the water and managed to return to shore with the individual,” Herbst said.
He said that it is reported a family had been taking photographs on the rocks when a wave washed a child into the surf. The man dived in after the child and managed to pass her to a relative. He then got into distress and was swept away.
“Despite extensive advanced life support attempts to resuscitate the man, resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and the man was declared dead on the scene,” Herbst said.
He thanked the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) station 41 for assisting.
Also on Sunday, Netcare 911 responded to reports of a drowning at an unprotected beach south of the Wild Coast Sun Holiday Resort at 11.40am.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said that reports indicate that a group of swimmers got into difficulty after being pulled into the sea by a strong rip current.
Herbst said that most of the swimmers managed to get themselves to shore with the help of people at a local camping site.
He said that one of the swimmers, a 15-year-old boy, was found on a nearby rocky outcrop and was brought to shore by the South Coast SAPS Search and Rescue Unit.
“The young boy was assessed on scene by paramedics, however, showed no signs of life and was sadly declared deceased,” Herbst said.
He said that a 12-year-old boy was also rescued from the sea by the NSRI and handed over to Netcare 911.
“The patient was assessed and found to have respiratory distress,” Herbst said.
“Once treated and stabilised, the young boy was transported to the hospital for further care.”
On Saturday night, Netcare 911 also responded to a drowning at a pool of a seaside hotel on Margate Beach on the KZN South Coast at 8.50pm.
Herbst said that reports indicate two women sank to the bottom of the pool, shortly after jumping in.
“Both women were pulled out of the water by hotel patrons who witnessed the incident,” Herbst said.
“Medics assessed both patients who had ingested pool water but were in a stable condition.”
Herbst added that once treated, the patients were transported by the government’s emergency medical services to the hospital.
On Saturday afternoon, the NSRI Port Alfred duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at West Beach at 3.53pm.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that in a strong rip current, a woman was being swept out to sea.
“We believe she had been swimming and wading in waist-deep water at the time while at the beach with friends,” Lambinon said.
He said that NSRI rescue swimmers responded to the scene, the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 11 Alpha was launched, SA Police Services, Gardmed ambulance services, Multi Security officers and municipal officials responded.
“On arrival on the scene our NSRI rescue craft was able to reach the female in the surf line in rough sea conditions and on rescuing the female onto our rescue craft CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts commenced and the female was brought to our NSRI Port Alfred rescue station where paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts,” Lambinon said.
“After all efforts to resuscitate the female were exhausted, sadly the 19-year-old KZN female, believed to be attending Rhodes University, was declared deceased.”
Lambinon added that the woman’s body was taken by the police and government forensic pathology services.
He said police have opened an inquest docket.
Earlier on Saturday, a mother and her daughter survived a near drowning at a Durban beach.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said that at 9.40am, Netcare 911 responded to a drowning on North Beach.
Herbst said that reports indicate that a mother and daughter got into difficulty swimming.
EThekwini lifeguards who witnessed the swimmers in distress were quick to respond and managed to pull both swimmers to shore, Herbst said.
“When medics arrived on the scene, they found both patients on the beach. The mother was in a stable condition and declined any treatment, however, the 10-year-old child had ingested seawater and was in severe respiratory distress,” Herbst said.
“The young girl was treated on scene by Netcare 911 emergency care practitioners and once stabilised was transported to the hospital for further care.”
Daily News