Woman suffers fatal drowning in Hout Bay harbour

stefansmuts.comLyall Pringle, NSRI Hout Bay station commander, said:At 19h00, Friday, 19th May, NSRI Hout Bay duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following reports of a drowning in progress in Hout Bay harbour at the North Breaker Wall.NSRI Hout Bay crew were at the NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue base in Hout Bay harbour at the time and immediately the sea rescue craft Tintswalo Phoenix was launched while NSRI crew responded directly to the scene and WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Community Medics and Life Healthcare response paramedics were activated by the Hout Bay community Watchcon centre.On arrival on the scene NSRI crew found a woman, aged in her late 30’s, a local from the Hout Bay fishing community, out of the water on the harbour wall and a man was conducting bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on the woman and NSRI medics took over CPR efforts which were joined by paramedics.Despite extensive advanced life support CPR efforts the woman was sadly declared deceased.Another two men, both aged in their late 30’s, locals from the Hout Bay fishing community, who we believe had both jumped into the water to rescue the woman, were treated on the scene by paramedics for hypothermia and one of the men was also treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and following treatment both men were released on the scene requiring no further medical assistance.It appears that the woman had fallen into the water in the harbour and two fishermen, from a fishing boat moored in the harbour, had reportedly jumped into the water to rescue her while a fellow fishermen had raised the alarm.The two fishermen who we believe had both jumped into the water to rescue the woman and fellow fishermen from fishing boats moored in the harbour in the vicinity, had managed to recover the woman onto the harbour wall where they had initiated CPR.The body of the deceased woman has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.NSRI and emergency services have expressed Sincere Condolences to family and friends of the deceased woman. TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE