A peaceful afternoon at Bloubergstrand Beach turned into a tragedy on Wednesday when a 28-year-old man lost his life after a reported drowning incident, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The victim, an Ethiopian national residing in Atlantis, was said to have been swimming when he was possibly caught in rip currents, a dangerous phenomenon known to affect the stunning coastline of Table View.
According to Rowan Marais, the NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, the alarm was raised at 3:37pm, prompting an immediate response from various rescue teams.
‘NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Bloubergstrand Beach,’ Marais noted.
The swift coordination of multiple emergency services highlighted the serious nature of the incident.
The response teams included lifeguards from Big Bay Surf Lifesaving (BBSL), the NSRI’s Melkbosstrand and Table Bay stations, community medics, and support from both Netcare 911 and ER24 ambulance services.
Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, along with the SA Police Services and CoCT Law Enforcement, also entered the scene to assist in recovery efforts.
As lifeguards arrived first on the scene, they quickly helped family members recover the casualty from the water and brought him to the shore.
Despite the rapid response and immediate efforts to perform CPR, tragically, the man was declared deceased by paramedics after all resuscitation attempts failed.
The body has been transferred into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services for further investigation.
The South African Police Service has opened an inquest docket to probe the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
In a heartfelt statement, NSRI extended their condolences to the family of the deceased.
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Picture: Getty Images/NSRI (Generic image)
