NSRI Wilderness recently responded to various drowning incidents along the Garden Route after strong rip currents caused turbulent water conditions.
This included the fatal drowning of a 10-year-old girl found unresponsive in the mid-surf breakers, despite CPR efforts.
Also read: Multiple rescues over busy long weekend for Western Cape NSRI
NSRI Wilderness recently responded to various drowning incidents induced by strong rip currents and turbulent water conditions. The incidents consisted of the following:
At 2.24pm on Tuesday, 27 December, the NSRI Wilderness duty crew was activated following reports from George Municipal lifeguards who had launched a search at Victoria Bay for an adult male that they suspected to have gone missing in the surf line while swimming.
Two NSRI rescue boats and a boat from the Fire and Rescue Services joined lifeguards at Victoria Bay in a thorough search that has turned up no sign of a male swimmer who lifeguards thought might have gone missing while swimming.
No one on the beach reported anyone missing until later, when friends of a 26-year-old male from George came forward, reporting that they had not seen their friend for some time at the beach, were unsure if he had returned from swimming, and were uncertain if he may have left the beach to go home.
A police patrol vehicle was investigated at an address in George, where police officers found no one in attendance at the residence. Later, when the man had still not returned home, police went back to the address and opened an investigation while they followed up on leads.
George Municipal lifeguards were called to Wilderness Main Beach to help three family members from George who were drowning after getting caught in rip currents.
Lifeguards rescued a young male from the mid-surf breakers, returning him safely to shore.
Lifeguards reached a 16-year-old female in the mid-surf breakers and, finding her unresponsive, initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts while bringing her to shore, where lifeguards and NSRI Wilderness Medics continued emergency medical care.
The 16-year-old was stabilised on the scene before being transported to the hospital by EMS ambulance in a serious but stable condition. NSRI is informed that she is expected to fully recover in the hospital under the care of doctors and nurses.
Lifeguards reached a 10-year-old female in the mid-surf breakers and found her unresponsive.
The SA Police Services and George Municipal Law Enforcement officers assisted with crowd control, support, and logistics.
Members of the public rallied around to assist and support the emergency services on the scene.
After extensive efforts to resuscitate the 10-year-old girl were exhausted, she was sadly declared deceased. Her body has been taken into the care of government forensic pathology services, and the police have opened an inquest docket.
NSRI conveyed sincere condolences to the family of the deceased child and commended the public members at Wilderness Beach for their assistance and support on the scene.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc Gallery