Rowan Marais, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, said: At 15h37, Wednesday, 11 March, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network were activated following eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Bloubergstrand Beach, Table View.
CoCT lifeguards, BBSL (Big Bay Surf Lifesaving) lifeguards, NSRI Melkbosstrand, NSRI Table Bay, Community medics, Netcare 911 ambulance services, ER24 ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, the SA Police Services and CoCT Law Enforcement, responded.
BBSL lifeguards launched an inflatable rescue craft while NSRI Melkbosstrand prepared to launch 2 rescue craft.
An NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue vehicle responded, accompanied by NSRI rescue swimmers and NSRI Table Bay rescue swimmers responded in private vehicles.
CoCT lifeguards, arriving first on-scene, assisted family members, of a 28 year old male, to recover the casualty from the water to the shoreline.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced and were joined by paramedics.
After all CPR efforts were exhausted on the scene sadly the man was declared deceased by paramedics.
The body of the man has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Police have opened an Inquest docket.
It appears that the Ethiopian man, living in Atlantis, was swimming when he may have been caught in rip currents.
Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased man.
