Fatal drowning of two children

Deon Langenhoven, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said:At 14h48, Wednesday, 07th December, NSRI Hermanus duty crew launched the sea rescue craft Jaytee III and responded to Onrus Beach, Hermanus, following reports of a drowning in progress.WC Government Health EMS, the SA Police Services and Law Enforcement officers responded.On arrival on the scene bystanders indicated to NSRI rescuers that the incident was in the Onrus Lagoon where the body of a child had been recovered by a bystander from under the water.The bystander, an adult man, had been swimming when he happened upon the body of the child under the water and he had recovered the body to the shoreline.A doctor, who happened to be there at the time, had performed CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on the child, believed to be a local and approximately 9 years of age, but the doctor had later declared the child deceased.On investigation Police determined that 4 boys (all believed to be aged around 9 and 10 year olds) had been swimming together in the lagoon. 2 had left to go home, and while Police dispatched a patrol van to the children’s house in an effort to determine if all 3 children had returned home, it was suspected that one child was still missing and may be missing under water.Suspecting that one child may still be missing 6 NSRI rescue swimmers formed a sweeping line, free dive, search in the same vicinity in the lagoon where the body of the first child had been located.During the sweeping line, free dive, search NSRI rescue swimmers located and recovered the body of the second child, also believed to be aged around 9 years old, and paramedics declared the child deceased.The body’s of both children have been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket. Our thoughts are with the rescuers and with the families.TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE