A 28-YEAR-OLD Belhar man is missing after he was swept by rip currents at Sonwabe Beach in Cape Town on Monday, 1 January.
The son of his wife’s sister, whom he was swimming with, drowned, while a 12-year-old boy, a brother to the deceased, is in hospital following the drowning incident.
The missing man’s eight-year-old son managed to swim out of danger and survived without injuries.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesman Craig Lambinon said on Monday, 1 January, NSRI Strandfontein duty crew were activated following witness reports of a drowning in progress at Sonwabe Beach, False Bay.
He said three males were caught in rip currents and swept out to sea.
Lambinon said NSRI Strandfontein rescue vehicle, Western Cape Government Health EMS, rescue squad, ambulance and response paramedics, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Marine Unit, SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services (WPDS), Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and City of Cape Town lifeguards responded to the incident.
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“On arrival on the scene one1 male, age 18, was found on the beach. NSRI medics initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation efforts and they were joined by emergency services. An eight-year-old and a 12-year-old, both males, were out of the water, and a 28-year-old male was missing,” said Lambinon.
He said two unidentified male bystanders had assisted the 12-year-old out of the water, and they had tried to assist the missing 28-year-old man. The 12-year-old was rushed to hospital and is in stable condition, Lambinon said.
“The eight-year-old had managed to get out of the water unassisted,” said Lambinon.
He said efforts to resuscitate the 18-year-old were exhausted, and he was declared deceased at the scene.
The deceased teenager is the older brother of the 12-year-old who has been hospitalised.
Lambinon said the two brothers (18 and 12) from Woodstock are the children of the brother of the wife of the missing man.
“A sea and shoreline search for the 28-year-old male continued but there remain no signs of the missing man,” said Lambinon.
MMC for Community Services and Health Patricia van der Ross said seven people have drowned, and 11 non-fatal drownings were recorded since the beginning of December.
“It’s unfortunate that all these tragic incidents have happened at beaches that are not designated swimming areas or outside of lifeguard duty hours. We still have a few months of beach weather lying in wait, so I want to renew my appeal to the public to please abide by the rules for their safety.
“Swim only where lifeguards are present and listen to their instructions when you do go into the water. Our lifeguards and support services have been working incredibly hard thus far this season, even extending their hours on occasion where beaches have been very busy,” said Van der Ross.
