PLETTENBERG BAY: Foreign National drowns

At 08h27 Friday 18th November, NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were called out following reports of a drowning in progress at Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay.Our NSRI Plettenberg Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded directly to the scene after it was confirmed that a woman had been brought to the beach by a duty lifeguard and a bystander.Our sea rescue duty doctor, Dr. Sam Botha, Med Life private ambulance services and the SA Police Services also responded.On arrival it was confirmed that duty lifeguard Clyde Mondeka and a bystander had rescued a 60 year old woman, from Belarus, and assisted by a Cape Town tourist, Dr. Bruce Mc Iver, initiated cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). They were soon joined by our sea rescue doctor, medics from NSRI and paramedics from Med Life. The patient was loaded into an ambulance and CPR efforts continued in the ambulance to hospital where doctors, after continued efforts to resuscitate the victim were exhausted, declared the victim dead.According to reports the woman had attempted to swim from Beacon Island to Central Beach when she appears to have gotten into difficulties, witnessed by lifeguards and bystanders on the beach who raised the alarm and launched a rescue effort.An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. Police are to open an inquest docket.The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, The Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Police are now all helping with the arrangements after this tragedy. Our sincerest condolences are expressed to the family of the deceased.