A man tragically lost his life while attempting to save a 12-year-old girl from drowning at Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town on the evening of Saturday, 23 November. The incident occurred when the young girl was swept away by strong rip currents. Witnesses reported that a 34-year-old man, who had been preparing to leave the beach, witnessed the emergency and rushed into the water to assist. Unfortunately, he too became caught in the dangerous currents and was unable to save the girl. While she was pulled from the water, she was later declared deceased upon arrival at the hospital.
Craig Lambinon, a spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), confirmed that the Strandfontein duty crew was alerted to the drowning incident at approximately 6:45 pm. Upon arrival, they found the young girl unresponsive, and the man who had attempted the rescue was missing. Despite an extensive search by both sea and shoreline rescue teams, no trace of the man was found. “The waves were too strong for the man to overcome,” said a witness. “He had acted quickly to help, but the currents were overpowering.”
The man and the girl were not related. Police spokesperson Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The loss of two lives in such a short span has left the community deeply shaken, as both victims were simply at the beach when the dangerous rip currents struck.
In a separate but equally tragic incident at Milnerton Beach on Sunday evening, another man was swept away by rip currents. Two men had been battling the waves when one of them was rescued by a Good Samaritan using the NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy. Unfortunately, the second man disappeared despite the extensive efforts of both the rescuer and search teams. Lambinon commended the actions of the Good Samaritan who managed to save one life, but expressed regret over the loss of the second individual. “The efforts of the rescuer were heroic, and we are grateful for their quick thinking,” he said. “However, despite all search efforts, there is still no sign of the missing man.”
These tragic events highlight the unpredictable and dangerous nature of rip currents, which continue to pose a significant threat to beachgoers. The NSRI and local authorities continue to urge caution when swimming in areas known for strong currents, and remind the public to always be vigilant when near the water.
