At about 17h00 on Wednesday the 17th of December, East London duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Eastern Beach, East London.
Geoff McGregor, NSRI East London station commander, said: 'Our crew, a SA Police Services K-9 dog search and rescue unit, SA Police Services, East London Fire and Rescue Services, EC Government Health EMS ambulance and rescue and their EMS rescue helicopter responded.
'On arrival on-scene it was found that bystanders had rescued a 13 year old local boy caught in a rip current, successfully bringing the teenager to shore where he was treated by EMS paramedics for near drowning symptoms and transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a stable condition for observation for secondary drowning.
'During the search for a missing local boy, believed to be 8 years old, an EMS rescue diver located and recovered the body of the child in the surf and the body of the child has been handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
'Police have opened an inquest docket.'
NSRI’s WaterWise Academy teaches children from disadvantaged communities about basic water safety, peer rescue, who to call in an emergency and how to do Hands On CPR. Our 12 Instructors, who are based around the country, have reached more than 600 000 children to date. For WaterWise Academy safety tips see http://goo.gl/dIciyy -ENDS-
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