TWO men died in separate drowning incidents at Battery Beach in Durban on Wednesday.
A 29-year-old man drowned just after 6pm.
Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha said: “Lifeguards found the man in the water. They pulled him out and tried to bring him back to life.”
He said advanced life support paramedics and an ambulance crew arrived at the scene to offer medical assistance.
“Tragically, the man was declared dead on the scene despite our team’s best efforts.”
In another incident, Botha said a man from East London died at the beach shortly after going for a swim.
“At about 2.40pm, Netcare 911 paramedics responded to a call about a man who suffered cardiac arrest. Reports from the scene indicate the man grabbed his chest and collapsed.”
Botha said lifeguards immediately ran to assist the man. “After working for almost an hour, paramedics declared the man dead.”
KZN cops spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said: “A 42-year-old man from Port Elizabeth allegedly drowned while swimming. Durban Central police are investigating the circumstances around the incident.”
Regarding the drowning of the 29-year-old man, Zwane said he could not comment because the man was a member of the South African National Defence Force.
“Regarding the second drowning, you will receive your response from Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo.”
But when Naidoo, the national police spokesman was called, he only acknowledged receipt of the enquiry and said he would respond via email. When contacted later, Naidoo’s phone rang unanswered.
