
File image: Jennifer Ponder
Correction: The mother of the young boy who sadly died in a suspected drowning in a hotel swimming pool is reportedly believed to be an employee of a local salon and not an employee of the hotel.
Original Release:At 18h37, Saturday, 06th January, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated following reports from bystanders (and following calls from multiple eye-witnesses) at the Beacon Island Hotel that bystanders had initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on a 5 year old boy who a group of children, swimming in the hotel pool, had recovered from underwater.Children swimming in the pool noticed an object under water in the pool and on closer inspection they realised that a child was lying at the bottom of the pool. The children rescued the child to the pools edge where adult bystanders (the parents of the children who had recovered the body from the pool) initiated CPR.NSRI medical crew, who carry full advance life support medical kits in their vehicles, were on the scene in minutes, and an ER Trauma Nurse (Emergency Room Trauma Nurse) from Mediclinic, off-duty but at home nearby and who is also on the NSRI emergency activation group, responded to the scene.Medlife ambulance services were activated.On arrival on the scene NSRI medics and the ER Trauma Nurse, took over CPR from the bystanders. CPR efforts were assisted by a doctor, who was at the hotel at the time, and joined by Medlife paramedics on their arrival on the scene.With CPR efforts continuing, the child was transported to hospital by ambulance where doctors continued with CPR in hospital but sadly after all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted the child has been declared deceased.Police have opened an inquest docket.Trauma counselors are attending to family of the deceased child. The mother is believed to be an employee of the hotel and her daughter was at the pool at the time.NSRI and emergency services convey our condolences.The children who rescued the child from underwater and the bystanders, their parents, who initiated CPR are commended for their actions.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE