At 09h10, Saturday, 4 September, NSRI Ballito duty crew, Kwadakuza Municipal lifeguards, Netcare 911 ambulance services and IPSS Medical Rescue were activated following reports of a diver in distress at Thompson's Bay.
Quentin Power, NSRI Ballito station commander, said:
A man and his son were reportedly dive spearfishing on the outer reef when it appears the son noticed his father unconscious in the water. While swimming his father towards the shore he raised the alarm and bystanders alerted the Kwadakuza lifeguards who assisted and on getting the 56 year old local man onto the beach lifeguards initiated CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts.
On arrival on the scene NSRI medics and IPSS Medical Rescue advanced life support paramedics assisted the lifeguards with extensive CPR efforts but sadly after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared deceased.
The body of the man was taken into the care of KZN Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.
Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.
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