La Mercy – Fatal drowning:

Quentin Power, NSRI Ballito station commander, said:At 15h19, Thursday, 26th September, NSRI Ballito duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at La Mercy Lagoon, North of Durban.NSRI Ballito rescue swimmers and the sea rescue craft Remax Rescuer, The SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue, Police K9 Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, eThekwini Lifeguards and Netcare 911 ambulance services responded.On arrival on the scene eThekwini lifeguards established that an 11 year old male child had gone missing in the lagoon and they initiated a search for the child who had gone missing in the water while reportedly swimming with a group of friends, believed to be aged between 9 and 12.NSRI, Police, paramedics and Metro Police joined the lifeguards in the search.Police K9 officers were transported onto the lagoon aboard the NSRI sea rescue craft and an area was indicated to Police divers who conducted a dive operation where they located and recovered the body of the missing child.Sadly the child has been declared deceased by paramedics and the body of the child has been taken into the care of the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.Police have opened an inquest docket.Condolences are conveyed to family of the deceased child.