One man drowns, while two people survive in three separate drowning accidents

By Cindy Witten
12 January 2009

In three separate drowning incidents that took place over the weekend, NSRI managed to save two people, while a third man drowned.

Following reports of a drowning accident, NSRI Strandfontein responded to Blue Water Bay near Strandfontein. NSRI’s Craig Lambinon says rescue workers managed to save the 45-year-old woman who was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.
“When we arrived on scene it was confirmed that the South African lifeguards had rescued a Mitchells Plain female from the water, after she had found herself in difficulty. The NSRI medics assisted the lifeguards to stabilize the female and she was taken to hospital,” he said.

Later that afternoon, NSRI Simonstown responded to Seaforth Beach near Simonstown. As soon as they arrived on scene, Cape Medical Response (CMR) stabilized a 22-year-old male, from the protection services of the SA Navy, who was reported to have been drowning.
Lambinon says that the man got into difficulty in the surf and that his friends rescued him.
“He was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. He has since been released from hospital, following observations for secondary drowning.”

In the third incident, yesterday evening, NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded to, Mouille Point, after being alerted that yet another man was drowning.
Lambinon says that a search commenced for a 57-year-old man from Khayelitsha, who reportedly dived into the surf from rocks to go for a swim and didn't surface after entering the water.
“The body of the man was located and had been washed up on rocks. He was declared dead on scene by paramedics,” he said.

Authorities refused to release the name of the man, as his family has not yet been informed.