The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Plettenberg Bay Station 14 duty crew responded to an emergency call of a drowning in progress at Nature’s Valley Lagoon, Plettenberg Bay, on Saturday, 30 September.
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The NSRI rescue swimmers were activated, along with a team in the NSRI rescue vehicle, while others who happened to be nearby, used their private vehicles.
Two NSRI rescue crafts were launched, taking advantage of the high tide to navigate the lagoon mouth and access the lagoon while the NSRI Plettenberg Bay all-terrain vehicle (ATV) stationed in Nature’s Valley was dispatched as well.
Multiple agencies, including the SA Police Services (SAPS), SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services, WC Government Health EMS, and Plettenberg Bay First Responders were called out.
The distressing incident involved three local male children believed to be 8 and 10 years old, who were kayaking on the lagoon and encountered difficulties.
One of the children managed to reach the shore and raise the alarm.
Upon arrival at the scene, rescuers located and retrieved one of the children from the water and immediately began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts, but unfortunately, despite exhaustive attempts, they were unable to revive the child, and he was declared deceased.
NSRI Nature’s Valley coastwatchers were instrumental in quickly evaluating and directing responding resources while assisting on the scene.
During a search the second child was located and recovered from the water but sadly the child was declared deceased. The bodies of the two deceased children were taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and a counsellor assisted the surviving child who was then taken into the care of his parents. The police have initiated an inquest docket.Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased children.
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