PORT ELIZABETH:This morning, Wednesday the 1st of January, NSRI Port Elizabeth, Coastal Rescue, Mandela Bay Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Services, EC Government Health EMS, lifeguards, the SA Police Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services and Relay ambulance services responded to Blue Water Bay following reports of a mass drowning incident in progress.It appears that as many as 50 persons, aged between approximately 12 and 24, from Vista Rus home for children, had been swimming together when 5 youngsters were swept out to sea by rip currents.Lifeguards swiftly rescued 3 young boys, bringing them safely to shore uninjured.2 remained missing, a 16 and 23 year old male.Lifeguards on a jet ski located and recovered the 23 year old who was found lying face down in the surf. He was transferred onto the NSRI sea rescue craft and rushed to shore with Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts in progress.Once ashore paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts but despite all their efforts, the young man was declared deceased.A 16 year old remains missing and the scene has been handed into the care of the Police Dive Unit.Police have opened an inquest docket.
SIMONSTOWN:This morning, Wednesday the 1st of January, NSRI Simonstown medics responded to Runcimans Drive, Simonstown, where a 70 year old woman had collapsed.Despite extensive CPR efforts by EMS and Cape Medical Response paramedics, the old lady, suspected to have suffered a heart attack, was declared deceased on the scene. NSRI Simonstown, the Skymed rescue helicopter, CMR (Cape Medical Response), the SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS responded to a tidal pool at Buffels Bay, Cape Point, where members of the public were conducting CPR on a 5 year old, Site C, Khayelitsha, boy who the members of the public had found lying face down in the tidal pool water.Despite extensive CPR efforts by paramedics the child has been declared deceased on the scene.It appears that the child's family had finished eating lunch when the child went to swim in the tidal pool.Members of the public had happened upon the child floating face down in the water a while later and they had recovered him from the water and initiated bystander CPR while raising the alarm.Police have opened an inquest docket. After midday, also on the 1st January, NSRI Simonstown, CMR, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and EMS responded to Kalk Bay harbour where a 43 year old woman from Delft had been found floating face down in the harbour at Kalk Bay.On arrival on-scene CPR commenced but despite extensive CPR efforts the woman was declared deceased.Police have opened an inquest docket.
RICHARDS BAY:At 13h30 on the 1st of January, NSRI Richards Bay, while on routine patrol, came across a drowning in progress at the Bay Hall area, Richards Bay harbour.A bystander rescued an 8 year old local boy from the water and an NSRI sea rescue craft rescued a 9 year old local boy from the water.Once on the beach CPR commenced on both children and was continued by ICE ambulance service paramedics. Both children's pulses were restored and they were breathing spontaneously.They have been transported to hospital by ICE ambulance in stable but serious conditions.
CAMPS BAY:At 14h53, Wednesday the 1st of January, Community Medics from Camps Bay, ER24 ambulance services and WC Government Health EMS responded to Camps Bay Beach following a near drowning incident.Lifeguards had rescued a woman, aged in her 20's, from the water and she has been treated on-scene by paramedics for near drowning symptoms.The Skymed Air Ambulance was activated and the woman, in a serious but stable condition, has been airlifted to hospital.
KALK BAY HARBOUR:At 15h33, Wednesday the 1st of January, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, CMR (Cape Medical Response) and WC Government Health EMS responded to Kalk Bay harbour following reports of a drowning incident.NSRI Simonstown also responded but stood down when it was confirmed that an adult man was already out of the water after falling and hitting his head on rocks.The man has been treated on the scene by paramedics and transported to hospital by ambulance in a serious but stable condition.
