Robert van Helsdingen, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:
At 16h18, Wednesday, 25th September, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of three swimmers in difficulty and caught in rip currents on the Eastern side of Victoria Bay.
NSRI rescue swimmers, WC Government Health EMS and ER24 ambulance services responded directly to the scene and the sea rescue craft ClemenGold Rescuer proceeded by sea from our NSRI base to Victoria Bay.
On arrival on the scene we found all 3 casualties, males, had been assisted out of the water by bystanders, some of the bystanders are believed to be school learners.
NSRI medical crew members assisted members of the public on the beach who had initiated bystander CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on one of the male casualties.
The remaining two casualties, age 20 and 15, that were in the water had also been rescued by members of the public. Those two males were later transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in stable conditions and they were discharged later on the same day.
ER24 and EMS paramedics assisted with advanced life support CPR on the scene on the one male, age 35, and after extensive efforts to resuscitate the casualty were exhausted he was sadly declared deceased.
The SA Police Services were activated.
A male school learner believed to be from Bloemfontein, who was on the beach at the time of the incident, he had swum out reportedly a considerable distance to retrieve the one male and additional male school learners, amongst others, who are believed to be from George, rescued the remaining two casualties.
The deceased and the two casualties are from the Northern Cape and believed to have been on a group away trip.
The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.
The school learners and members of the public who assisted are commended for their efforts.
TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE
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