Teenage boy drowns and another presumed to have drowned

Sea Rescue – Strandfontein – Saturday, 05th March, 2011. Teenage boy drowns and another is presumed to have drowned:NSRI Strandfontein volunteers were activated at 12:50 following a report of a drowning in progress at Blue Waters, between Mnandi and Strandfontein on the False Bay Coast.Strandfontein launched I&J Rescuer and NSRI rescue swimmers in a NSRI 4x4 rescue vehicle responded to the scene. Metro EMS Red Cross AMS helicopter, Metro EMS, the SA Police Services and Law Enforcement also responded to the scene.A bystander, Andrew Jafta, 30, from Strandfontein, who had been on the beach with his family, had pulled an unconscious 15 year old boy from the surf and started Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with the help of bystanders on the beach.On arrival on-scene NSRI medics took over CPR efforts which were continued by Metro EMS paramedics and a Netcare 911 paramedic but after all efforts to resuscitate the teenager were exhausted he was declared dead on the scene.An extensive air, sea and shore search commenced for the second 15 year old boy.The deceased child and the missing child were part of an outing for a skills school from Khayaletsha. Approximately 400 children arriving in 6 busses at the beach following a sports day. It is not clear how many of the children were swimming when the two 15 year old teenagers were swept out to sea by a rip-current.During the search police divers deployed into the surf to scuba dive search confirmed strong Spring Tide rip currents prevailing.No lifeguards were on duty at the beach at the time of the incident.The SA Police Service has opened an inquest docket and names of the missing child and the deceased child has not been released.Trauma counseling has been provided to the school children by the school.