By Mulalo Luvhimbi
An eight-year-old boy has died in Camps Bay while two teenagers remain missing after separate drowning incidents in Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal since Saturday.
On Monday, emergency services were alerted just before 6pm that bystanders were performing CPR on a child at the Camps Bay tidal pool.
“On arrival at the scene, it was found bystander CPR efforts were in progress on an eight-year-old male child that had been recovered from the pool unresponsive. We believe [he was] recovered by local bystander Good Samaritans,” said NSRI Bakoven station commander Bevan Geyser.
Emergency medical personnel, lifeguards, law enforcement officers, police and NSRI crews responded.
ALSO READ: De Lille calls for investment-ready tourism projects on West Rand
“Extensive advanced life support CPR efforts were continued, but after all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted. Sadly, the child was declared deceased by paramedics,” said Geyser.
“The child had reportedly been playing in and around the pool, visiting at Camps Bay tidal pool with family, and was believed to be from Somalia, living in Cape Town…”
His body was taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Service and police opened an inquest docket.
The death came two days after an 18-year-old from Mfuleni disappeared while swimming at Glen Beach in Camps Bay.
NSRI Bakoven and Table Bay crews were activated at about 7pm on Saturday after the young man went missing in the surf.
“It appears that the teenager was swimming with friends at Glen Beach when he got into difficulties and was being swept towards Maidens Cove. A friend had tried to rescue the teenager but in strong currents was unable to reach him when he disappeared,” Geyser said.
An extensive search involving rescue swimmers, lifeguards, emergency services, police and a Metro Police drone unit failed to locate him.
“Despite an extensive air, sea and shoreline search no signs of the teenager was been located.”
Police divers from the Water Policing and Diving Service were continuing search efforts.
Earlier on Saturday, two teenagers were caught in apparent rip currents at Cape Vidal Beach near St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal.
ALSO READ: Eight court cases could affect ballot papers ahead of local elections
NSRI St Lucia station commander Melinda Snyman said a 14-year-old boy was rescued by a woman from Benoni who entered the water to help the two teenagers.
“On arrival on the scene we found a 14-year-old male had been rescued safely to the beach by a female Good Samaritan, from Benoni, who had launched into the water to go to the aid of the two teenagers caught in rip currents. She has been commended for rescuing the 14-year-old.”
The boy was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and taken to hospital in a stable condition.
“He is expected to make a full recovery.”
A 16-year-old boy who had been swimming with him remained missing.
“Despite extensive sea and shoreline search efforts, there remains no signs of the missing teenager.”
Both teenagers were from Mtubatuba and had been visiting the beach with family.
Police Search and Rescue members from the Water Policing and Diving Service, assisted by iSimangaliso Wetland Park rangers, were continuing search efforts.
In September, the NSRI reported an increase in rescue activity as school holidays started. It urged swimmers, boaters, anglers and families to take additional precautions at beaches, swimming pools, rivers and dams as water activity increased.
