We often don’t think of the sacrifices lifeguards make to ensure that Cape Town beachgoers remain safe when heading out to enjoy the glistening ocean.
While many Capetonians were splashing around in the water, trying to stay cool after the heatwave this weekend, City lifeguards were on duty, working to keep swimmers safe.
The City of Cape Town recorded 39 non-fatal drownings this summer season, with 14 of these occurring this past weekend.
It was said that these were successful rescues where patients would otherwise have lost their lives if not for the interventions of first responders and emergency services.
“A mammoth 184 help-outs were performed by City lifeguards just this weekend, in addition to the countless preventative actions taken by them prior to a rescue being required.
“Additional rescues were also performed by voluntary lifeguards from the 15 lifesaving clubs in Cape Town and the NSRI members from their base and satellite stations on duty around the coast,” a statement reads.
Unfortunately, two fatal drownings occurred on Sunday, 23 January 2022 at Strand Beach and Sonwabe Beach. In both cases, the patients were adult males who lost their lives.
The City recorded 15 fatal drownings between September 2021 and 23 January 2022 with 39 lives that were saved and recorded as non-fatal drownings over the same period. In most of these cases, the victims had been swimming outside of designated bathing areas, on unguarded beaches or outside of lifeguard hours.
The most common causes for drownings are:
- Swimming in isolated areas where lifeguards are not present and where the likelihood for rip currents to occur is high.
- Drinking alcohol (even though its not allowed at beaches and municipal swimming pools) and swimming under the influence.
- Leaving children unsupervised near water (children under the age of 15 are statistically at greater risk of drowning than any other age group of individuals).
Also read:
NSRI needs more rescuers, Capetonians urged to stop ignoring safety warnings
Picture: Supplied