The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has appealed to bathers to be safe as drowning incidents increase.
In the first incident, two teenagers drowned in the Great Kei River in the Eastern Cape.
NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon said the bodies of the children were recovered on December 13.
“NSRI is sad to inform you that on Friday, 13 December, Local community members located and recovered the bodies of two teenagers, believed to both be aged 13, from the Great Kei River, approximately 20 kilometers inland of Kei River Mouth in the Eastern Cape. NSRI Kei Mouth had been alerted during the afternoon of December 11, of a drowning in progress on the Great Kei River. The South African Police Services (SAPS) and Police K9 Search and Rescue attended the scene where during ongoing search efforts local community members reported that they had found the two children,” Lambinon said.
The bodies of the children were taken into the care of police and forensic pathology has taken the bodies into their care.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
On Sunday, December 15, NSRI Kei Mouth crew members were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Morgan Bay Lagoon in the Eastern Cape.
“A 12-year-old female had disappeared underwater while swimming at around 1.44pm.
Friends had run to call the Great Kei Mouth Municipal lifeguards who were on duty at Morgan Bay. An eyewitness, formerly an NSRI lifeguard, had entered the water to commence a search. Great Kei Mouth Municipal lifeguards joined him and they were able to locate and recover the child from the water quickly,” Lambinon said.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts commenced. Lifeguards were using equipment supplied by Morgan Bay Ratepayers Association and NSRI Lifesaving. Spontaneous breathing and a pulse were restored during CPR efforts.
NSRI Kei Mouth, Morgan Bay Hotel staff, local Morgan Bay ratepayers Association members, a former Mountain Club of South Africa member, Alderson's ambulance services, and a nurse who is associated with NSRI station 47 Kei Mouth responded and joined the lifeguards on the scene.
“The child, in a serious condition, was transported to hospital by Alderson's ambulance, in the care of paramedics, where NSRI has learned that ongoing medical treatment by doctors and nurses administered to the child in ICU, for non-fatal drowning symptoms, was successful and the child is recovering,” Lambinon said.
The NSRI commended the swift response by all involved as well as the Morgan Bay Ratepayers Association and NSRI Lifesaving, for sponsoring the lifeguard equipment to the Great Kei River Municipal lifeguards that was used to contribute to saving the child’s life.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL