44% of near drownings reported in Gauteng

By Kim Saulse
18 December 2009

South Africa’s largest private hospital group, Netcare, warns that most drownings and near-drownings occur around the home and involve children less than four years of age.

Netcare’s head of trauma Mande Toubkin says another surprising statistic is that more than 44-percent of near-drownings recorded this year occurred in Gauteng.

Toubkin says one would have expected much higher percentages for coastal areas.

Netcare says the statistics show that water can be extremely dangerous and needs to be shown respect.