A tragic drowning incident occurred at Strand Beach in Cape Town on Tuesday, where a 62-year-old man lost his life while surfing. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) responded to reports of the incident, which indicated that the man, who had been in distress in the surf with a longboard, was rescued from the water by bystanders. Despite their efforts, the man remained unresponsive. The City of Cape Town’s water rescue network, along with multiple emergency services, were quickly activated to assist.
Upon arrival, the NSRI’s Gordons Bay station commander, Ryan Holmes, confirmed that paramedics, including those from ER24 ambulance services, WC Government Health EMS, and GB Med ambulance services, immediately began extensive Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts. Sadly, after all attempts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared deceased. The 62-year-old’s body was then handed over to the police and government health forensic pathology services for further investigation.
Holmes extended his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, acknowledging the emotional toll such incidents take on loved ones. “Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the deceased man,” he said. Following the incident, police opened an Inquest docket to determine the cause of death. This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with ocean activities, even for experienced individuals.
In a separate incident on December 5, the NSRI Port Alfred crew responded to a distressing report of a missing teenager at East Beach in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape. The 16-year-old, who had been swimming with a group of friends, disappeared in the water while the group was enjoying the day at the beach. The group, which was visiting from Soweto, Gauteng, had two caretakers with them when the teenager was last seen swimming, after which an alert was raised when he failed to resurface.
A large-scale search operation was immediately launched, involving both sea and shoreline searches, as well as Police K9 Search and Rescue teams. Despite the extensive efforts from the emergency teams, including the local police and NSRI volunteers, no signs of the missing teenager were found, leading to increasing concerns for his safety. The case was officially classified as a missing persons investigation, with authorities working diligently to locate him.
Sadly, the search came to a tragic end the following day when the teenager’s body was recovered on December 6. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon confirmed the grim news, adding that the teenager’s family and friends were devastated by the outcome. These two incidents, occurring within days of each other, highlight the dangers posed by the sea, especially when individuals become separated from their group or face unexpected difficulties in the water. The NSRI and other emergency services continue to urge the public to exercise caution and to be vigilant while engaging in water activities.
