A fatal drowning accident occurred at Fish Hoek beach on Sunday 6 December in the afternoon.

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said the NSRI Simonstown volunteer duty crew dispatched a rescue vehicle and the NSRI rescue craft Spirit of Safmarine III to respond to the scene at 15h20 following confirmation from on-duty lifeguards at Fish Hoek beach that a man was missing in the surf in front of the Fish Hoek hobie-cat club.

CMR (Cape Medical Response) paramedics, Metro False Bay volunteer Emergency Medical Services and the SA Police Services also responded to the scene to assist.

On arrival on-scene the NSRI joined lifeguards who were already searching for the missing 27 year old man from Gassy Park.

It was confirmed that the brother of the missing man had tried desperately, in vain, to rescue his brother who it appears had gotten caught in strong rip-currents.

It was only after the brother of the missing man swam to the beach and collapsed on the beach, after trying desperately to save his brother, that anyone noticed that there was someone in difficulty and alerted the on-duty lifeguards.

During the search operation the body of the 27 year old man was found in shallow surf, further down the beach, and the CMR and Metro volunteer paramedics initiated Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation efforts but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared dead on the scene.

The body of the man has been handed into the care of the SA Police Services and the Forensic Pathology Services.

Two fatal drowning accidents and one near drowning accident in the Western Cape over this weekend highlights the importance for beach goers to exercise extreme caution at our beaches Nationally over the festive season.

Two of these drowning accidents, both fatal, at Eerste Steen on Saturday and at Fish Hoek on Sunday, occurred at beaches where lifeguards are on duty.

All three drowning accidents are suspected to have been caused by strong rip-currents and the near drowning accident at Camps Bay beach, on Saturday night, is suspected to have been caused by a combination of alcohol abuse and strong rip-currents.

The NSRI are urging beach goers to only swim within the safe swimming demarcated zones marked by lifeguards, at beaches where they are on duty, with red and yellow flags.

Do not drink alcohol and go swimming or boating. Be very aware that strong rip-currents prevail all along the coastline. Wear your lifejacket at all times while on any craft on water.

Camps Bay, 06th December, 2009: Mark Thompson, NSRI Bakoven station commander said: “At 20h17, on Saturday the 05th December, NSRI Bakoven were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Camps Bay beach.

“NSRI Bakoven volunteers responded to the scene where a female, aged in her mid 20’s, from Khayelitsha, was found on the beach suffering near drowning symptoms. The female had been rescued from the surf by an unidentified bystander.

“Treatment was administered by paramedics on the scene and the female was transported to hospital in a stable condition by an ambulance.

“It is suspected that the female was inebriated from alcohol consumption resulting in her getting into difficulty while swimming.

“The NSRI are urging the public not to drink alcohol before swimming in any water, inland or coastal, and not to drink alcohol before or while boating, sailing or paddling.”

The NSRI have been informed that a male aged in his mid 20’s drowned at Eerste Steen beach, near Bloubergstrand, on Saturday, 05th December, at approximately 11h00. Lifeguards removed the man from the water and paramedics attempted Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts which were later terminated after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted and he was declared dead.

www.MyCapeTown.co.za: Nawahlodien Panday, NSRI Strandfontein station commander said: “On the 12th of February at 15h38 NSRI Strandfontein were alerted to join Strandfontein Surf Lifeguards and Law Enforcement Officers investigating a suspected drowning accident in front of the NSRI rescue base at Strandfontein Beach on the False Bay Coast.

It had been reported that a group of 11 teenage and adult friends, from Ottery, ranging in ages between 17 and 28, had gone to the beach to swim and while swimming, at approximately 13h45 today, one member of the party, 17 year old Justin Freeman, from Ottery, had gone missing but despite a search by the remaining ten friends no sign of Justin could be found and the alarm was raised.

While it is strongly suspected that Justin went missing in the surf while swimming other possibilities are being investigated.

The SA Police Services and a Police Dive Unit were alerted and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services were placed on alert and despite an extensive search no sign of the missing teenager has been found.

Justin Freeman’s mother and his Uncle were called to the scene and all avenues are being investigated to find the teenager.

A sea and shore search continues on the scene and anyone with any information that can assist in this case can contact the SAPS on 10111 or report the information at any police station.”

The 4th of January was a busy day for the NSRI, with two drownings and a head injury: At 12h57 NSRI Strandfontein responded to 9 Miles Beach, 600 metres from the NSRI Strandfontein rescue base, after fisherman reported that a man had disappeared in the surf while swimming.

An extensive search, which has included two NSRI rescue craft, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter, Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services, Police, Law Enforcement and Police Divers, has revealed no sign of a missing 22 year old Elsies River man who is presumed to have drowned.

Police divers are continuing to search and the mans family, from Phillipi, are receiving trauma counseling.
Michael Saunders, NSRI Strandfontein Deputy Station Commander, said that it appears that the man was swept out to sea by strong rip-currents before getting into difficuly and disappearing beneath the surf.

Michael said that the fishermen who witnessed the man getting into difficulty before disappearing beneath the surf had tried to swim out to assist but had returned to the beach after realizing that they may get into difficulty themselves in the strong currents.

At 14h00 NSRI Simonstown, the SA Police Services, CMR (Cape Medical Response) and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services responded to Glencairn Beach to assist two Western Province lifeguards who had rescued a 43 year old male, Welcome Glen, from the surf, after the man had gotten into difficulty while trying to rescue his daughter who was in difficulty in the surf, and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) had been commenced on the man, by the two lifeguards, after they had rescued him from the surf.

On arrival on-scene paramedics continued with CPR but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted on the scene he was declared dead.

The deceased mans daughter was not injured and was taken away from the scene with her sister by family members.

At 14h29 CMR (Cape Medical Response), NSRI Simonstown and ER-24 ambulance services responded to the Buffels Bay tidal pool at the Cape Point Nature Reserve following reports of a 17 year old male, from Kensington, Cape Town, injured after diving into the water and hitting his head on rocks.

CMR paramedics treated the man for head injuries and as a precaution full spinal imobilization techniques were applied and he has been transported to hospital by an ER-24 ambulance in a stable condition.

Nawahlodien Panday, NSRI Strandfontein Station Commander said: “At 16h48 NSRI Strandfontein were activated by the National Ports Authority to respond to Macassar Beach following reports of a drowning in progress.

“We launched our rescue craft I&J Rescuer while NSRI volunteers responded directly to the beach and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services and the SA Police Services responded to join SA Lifesaving lifeguards who were on the scene.

“On arrival on-scene it was determined that a male child was safely on the beach after getting into difficulty in the surf and he required no medical attention.

“While in attendance at the scene it was reported, from further down the same beach, that another drowning incident was taking place.

“Lifeguards swam out and brought a male, aged 44, who was found floating lifeless in the surf, onto the beach and together with the Metro paramedics Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were commenced on the man, who was pulse less and not breathing but after all efforts to revive the man were exhausted he was declared dead.

“Police are investigating the drowning and the deceased mans name will only be released once his next of kin are informed.”