STATION 25, Hartbeespoort Dam. STATION 10, Simonstown. STATION 16, Strandfontein. STATION 9, Gordons Bay. STATION 19, Richards Bay: 5 fatalities

NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty crew and SRU (Strategic Rescue Unit) were requested to assist the SA Police Services and Police divers searching for a 9 year old male child missing in the Tholwane River, Madikwe, North West of Rustenberg.

NORTH WEST PROVINCE:

Arthur Crewe, NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station commander, said:

Police had been alerted on Friday late afternoon and attended at the scene where the child had reportedly been swept away by currents on Friday afternoon while playing at the river with 3 friends.

The 3 friends had raised the alarm.

NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam crew and SRU crew joined Police divers and Police officers on the scene searching along the river and at Madikwe Dam.

Search efforts, hampered by the swollen river, remote and difficult barely accessible terrain, were joined by community members.

A Police helicopter was activated to join in the search.

During the Police helicopter search the body of the child was located and recovered from the water approximately 8 kilometers downstream from where the child had been swimming with friends.

The body of the child has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family and to the community members.

The community are commended for assisting in the search

GLENCAIRN:

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simonstown station commander, said:

NSRI Simonstown duty crew and the City of Cape Town (CoCT) water rescue network were activated following eye-witness reports of a drowning in progress at Glencairn Beach.

An NSRI trainee crew member, who lives across the road from the beach and was at the beach at the time, had launched into the water with an NSRI pink rescue buoy, stationed at that beach, after being alerted to a commotion where bystanders were pointing towards a man being swept out to sea in rip currents.

NSRI Simonstown launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski II, an NSRI rescue vehicle, CMR (Cape Medical Response), Fish Hoek Lifesaving lifeguards, WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and Law Enforcement officers responded.

The NSRI member reached the man in the surf zone finding him lifeless in the water.

Using the rescue buoy to aid floatation the current swept them further out to sea where they were both rescued onto the sea rescue craft.

CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced on the 46 year old male from Ocean View on the sea rescue craft.

The patient was brought to False Bay Yacht Club where CMR paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts. After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted sadly he was declared deceased.

The body of the man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.

MONWABISI:

CoCT (City of Cape Town) lifeguards, on duty at Monwabisi Main Beach, were alerted by eye-witnesses reporting the lifeless body of a man washed onto the far East section of the beach at Monwabisi.

CoCT lifeguards, Cape Town Traffic Services and Law Enforcement officers responded while alerting the CoCT water rescue network and on their arrival on the scene CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced on a 37 year old male from Mfuleni.

NSRI Strandfontein duty crew, NSRI lifeguards, SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS responded.

Following extensive CPR efforts the man was sadly declared deceased.

The body of the man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.

STRAND:

An NSRI Gordons Bay coxswain, who lives in a block of apartments in Strand, was alerted by the caretaker who had noticed the lifeless body of a man floating in the apartment block swimming pool.

The NSRI member rescued the man, a 60 year old resident, from the swimming pool and initiated CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts.

GB Med ambulance services and ER24 ambulance services responded.

After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted sadly he was declared deceased.

The body of the man has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

While it is suspected that the man may have suffered a medical condition while swimming in the pool Police have opened an inquest docket for investigation.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased man.

RICHARDS BAY:

Mike Patterson, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said:

NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following reports from Police search and rescue of a drowning in progress near to Bay Hall, off-shore of Pelican Island.

Our NSRI rescue vehicle, Police search and rescue and lifeguards responded.

The sea rescue craft Grindrod Rescuer and a Police boat were launched and lifeguards on Malibu rescue boards responded.

On arrival on the scene a search commenced for a 14 year old female who had disappeared under water after appearing to be in difficulty approximately 50 meters off-shore.

During a search the body of the teenager was located and recovered by Police scuba divers from under water.

Sadly the teenager was declared deceased.

The body of the girl has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased girl.