Two drown in Mitchell’s Plain

By Jurina Nkwazi
26 October 2010

Brent Florence and Ashley Haas drowned in Mitchells Plain when they were swept away by strong currents while swimming on Monday.

The incident happened at the Wolfgat nature reserve on the False Bay coast when the men part of eight took a swim before there team building were about to start.

The session was to be filmed for an episode of the current affairs programme Fokus on SABC2 as part of an insert about the James Restoration Home, where the men received treatment for their drug addiction.

Florence allegedly went into the sea to rescue Ashley and Ricky Adams who were in trouble.

He managed to bring Ricky half way to the beach and returned to help Ashley.

By the time he returned Haas drifted further away into the deep blue sea and the current became to strong for Florence which made it difficult for rescuers to help them.

National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said, “The swell was about a metre-and-a-half high, there were nine rip currents over a distance of 50 metres as well as strong gusts of winds when rescue workers arrived at the scene a little while later.”

Police divers were unable to continue there search for the men due the bad weather conditions.