Michael Markovina, NSRI Kleinmond duty coxswain, said: At 10h27, Saturday, 20 November, while NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were at the base on alert because of today’s start of crayfish season we were activated following eye-witness reports of bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts in progress, being conducted on a 46 year old male, from Eerste Rivier, on the shoreline at Draad Baai, Bettys Bay.
Our NSRI sea rescue vehicle, Law Enforcement, the SA Police Services and CMC ambulance services responded.
An NSRI Kleinmond off-duty crew member was already on the scene assisting.
It appears that the man was free diving and he may have suffered a medical condition. He was recovered from the water by other divers that were there at the time and they initiated CPR.
On the NSRI duty crew arriving on the scene CPR continued and was joined by paramedics.
Despite extensive efforts to resuscitate the man sadly he was declared deceased by paramedics.
The body of the man has been taken into the care of WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
NSRI are appealing to the public to be cautious around water during the summer season and we are urging the crayfishing community to adopt a safety conscious mind set especially when free diving close inshore around the shoreline.
