Fatal drowning in Wilderness

WILDERNESS:Garth Dominy, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:At 12h47, Saturday, 30 January, NSRI Wilderness rescue swimmers, SA Police Services, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services and ER24 ambulance services responded to Swartvlei Lake, between Wilderness and Sedgefield, after bystanders raised the alarm reporting a drowning in progress.On arrival on the scene it was determined that a bystander, a local man, had recovered an adult male from under the water and then assisted by other bystanders they had initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts.Sadly paramedics declared the man deceased.The body of the deceased man was taken into the care of WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.The children, a girl aged 13, the daughter of the deceased man, and 3 boys, aged 13,12 and 6, cousins of the girl, all from Knysna, were taken into the care of the Police.Condolences are conveyed to the family.NSRI, on behalf of the emergency services, has commended the bystanders, a man and his 2 children, who assisted on the scene.Another 3 bystanders who stopped their vehicle to assist on the scene are also commended.We are requesting that bystanders who were on the scene and who assisted, 3 bystanders who we believe stopped their vehicle to assist when they noticed the commotion, contact NSRI on 0823803800.