After a few recent drowning incidents in the Western Cape, including the double-drowning that saw two sisters from Ceres lose their lives near the Old Harbour in Hermanus, people have been on high alert.
Also read: Sisters from Ceres, 60 and 62, drowned in Hermanus
The City of Cape Town announced that drownings have been on the increase in our area year on year.
“The number of fatal drownings is disheartening, given the many awareness drives and campaigns from the City to prevent these incidents,” Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Councillor Patricia van der Ross said.
Since 2019, there have been 56 drownings at public beaches and swimming pools during peak summer seasons according to the City. 19 drownings occurred in 2022 alone.
Upon investigating the cases, the City revealed that 86% of the drownings were males. 60% of all deaths were young people between 13-35 years old.
In the Western Cape, many of the deaths happen on the weekend and on public holidays and the majority of deaths occur during summer.
The City adds that:
“Three main bodies of water account for the majority of fatal drownings in the Western Cape: harbours and tidal pools (27,1%), ponds, dams and lakes (25,9%) and rivers and canals (22,9%).
Swimming pools are the fourth largest contributor to fatal drownings in the Western Cape, with 12,4% of the total”.
Drowning hotspots in Cape Town have been identified as:
- Table View
- Milnerton Lagoon Beach
- Sea Point
- Between Clifton 1st and 3rd beach
- Glen Beach
- Strand Deep Blue and Jetty
- Wolfgat Nature Reserve
- Kogel Bay Dappat se Gat
Drownings happen for various reasons, but common sense is one of the key weapons in not falling victim to the waves. The City advises people to swim when lifeguards are around, and where signs permit swimming. Supervising kids (engaging with them in the water instead of watching from a distance) and dressing them in bright swimming costumes also decrease drowning risks.
Keep between red and yellow lifeguard flags. Don’t drink alcohol at the beach or at public swimming pools, because liquid courage won’t be your friend in the waves. It also reduces the impact of CPR.
Councillor van der Ross added that: “through joint efforts by staff, both seasonal and permanent, partners and key roleplayers in the drowning prevention sector, together with resource allocations and the required political support, the Department will continue to strive towards its vision of eliminating accidental drownings in Cape Town”.
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