On Wednesday September 25, the NSRI Wilderness duty crew were alerted to reports of three swimmers caught in a rip current on the eastern side of Victoria Bay.
NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services responded directly to the scene and the sea rescue craft Clement Gold Rescuer proceeded by sea from its base to Victoria Bay.
Upon arrival at the scene three men had been assisted out of the water by bystanders. Some of the bystanders are believed to be school children.
NSRI medical crew members assisted members of the public on the beach who had initiated bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on one of the men.
Two of the men, age 20 and 15, that were in the water were transported to hospital by EMS ambulances in stable conditions and they were discharged later the same day.
ER24 and EMS paramedics assisted with advanced life support CPR at the scene on the one male, age 35, and although extensive efforts to resuscitate him were exhausted, he was sadly declared dead.
The SA Police Services were activated.
A male school learner believed to be from Bloemfontein who was on the beach at the time of the incident had swum out a reportedly considerable distance to retrieve the one male. Additional male school learners, amongst others, who are believed to be from George, rescued the remaining two men.
The deceased and the other two men are from the Northern Cape and were believed to have been on a group trip.
The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
Cape Town Etc expresses their condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.
Image: Unsplash
