Silvermine Dam – Fatal drowning

NSRI Kommetjie duty crew were activated following an eye-witness report of a drowning in progress at Silvermine Dam, Silvermine Nature Reserve

Johnathan Bakker, NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said:

The CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network was activated. NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) alerted the emergency services.

NSRI Kommetjie dispatched our sea rescue vehicle towing the sea rescue craft IL Batello and NSRI Strandfontein dispatched a sea rescue vehicle towing the sea rescue craft Sharon.

The SA Police Services, TMNP (Table Mountain National Parks) rangers, WC Government Health EMS rescue squad, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and Fire Dive Unit and Cape Town Disaster Risk Management responded.

The Police Dive Unit were placed on alert. On arrival on the scene it was confirmed that a 24 year old male, from Retreat, had disappeared under water while swimming with his girlfriend and 2 friends.

They had tried to reach him before he disappeared under water. The 2 NSRI craft were launched onto the water and a surface water search commenced. 4 NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water and they conducted free dive search efforts.

The Police Dive Unit were activated and on arrival on the scene Police divers and Fire and Rescue Services rescue divers, supported by the NSRI rescue craft, conducted scuba dive search efforts.

During scuba dive search efforts the body of the man was located and recovered from under water. The body of the deceased man has been taken into the care of the WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family, the girlfriend and friends of the deceased man.