Strand – Fatal drowning

NSRI Gordons Bay duty crew were activated following the activation of the City of Cape Town (CoCT) water rescue network from Law Enforcement officers at Strand Beach reporting a 10 year old female child, from Stellenbosch, missing and suspected to be missing in the surf zone.

Alan Meiklejohn, NSRI Gordons Bay station commander, said:

The sea rescue craft Zelda was launched. NSRI rescue swimmers, Disaster Risk Management officers, the SA Police Services, CoCT Strand Surf Lifesaving lifeguards, WC Government Health EMS, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, GB Med ambulance services, ER24 ambulance services and Life Healthcare response paramedics responded to join Law Enforcement and Law Enforcement Marine officers on the scene where a search had commenced.

On arrival on the scene the sea rescue craft searched in the direction of sea currents when a resident in a block of flats opposite Strand Beach reported sighting the girl in the water a distance away from where she had reportedly originally been swimming.

The sea rescue craft was nearing that area at the time and NSRI crew spotted the girl lifeless in the water.

She was recovered onto the sea rescue craft and brought to paramedics on the shore where sadly she was declared deceased.

Condolences are conveyed to the family of the deceased girl.

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

Police have opened an inquest docket.