The City’s Recreation and Parks Department is reflecting on the highs and lows of an extremely busy bathing season for beaches and swimming pools, as well as the hundreds of lifeguards and support personnel tasked with keeping visitors safe.
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‘The past summer season was a busy one, with our pools and beaches recording high numbers of visitors. Preparation for the new season starts at the end of the previous one, so we are already looking ahead to the next season and how we can build on our systems. Our priority remains the safety of everyone who visits our pools and beaches, and ensuring that our facilities are in peak condition,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross.
The Recreation and Parks Department reported 14 fatal drownings and 30 non-fatal drownings on the City-managed coastline between Silwerstroomstrand and Kogel Bay.
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In the 2023/24 season, all fatal drownings occurred outside designated bathing areas or when lifeguards were not on duty.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of these fatal drownings occurred on weekends or public holidays.
A total of 79% of fatal drowning victims were male, with 14.3% being minors under the age of 18.
This season, Strand Beach saw no fatal drownings.
This is significant because there has been at least one fatal drowning at Strand Beach in the previous four seasons.
In a statement, the CoCT stated that this would not have been possible without lifeguards actively patrolling the beach, monitoring bathers by maintaining a safe bathing area, prohibiting swimming outside of that area, and collaborating closely with partners who share the same commitment to drowning prevention.
The CoCT stated that this remarkable turnaround demonstrates the effectiveness of drowning prevention efforts and the City’s unwavering commitment to beach safety.
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‘The past season has seen positive outcomes in terms of water safety. At swimming pools, there were no major incidents, and at beaches, there has been a significant improvement from last year where 19 fatal drownings were recorded. I am particularly proud to highlight the remarkable efforts of our Swimming Pool Lifeguards, who have done a fantastic job preventing serious drowning-related incidents. Only rescues where patrons were helped out of the water were recorded and we thank our lifeguards for their vigilance and dedication,’ said Van der Ross.
She also mentioned that the hotter-than-usual weather throughout the season drew an unusually large number of beachgoers and pool visitors.
Despite the increased crowds, lifeguards handled the situation effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of all visitors.
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Picture: City of Cape Town