Fatal drowning - Port Edward

A fatal drowning of a male teenager, and a 12-year-old male transported to hospital in serious condition following a non-fatal drowning.

At 10h43, Sunday, 11 September, NSRI Port Edward duty crew were activated following a call to NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) from eye-witnesses, local fishermen, reporting a drowning in progress at Mzamba Beach, near to the Mzamba River Mouth.

NSRI rescue swimmers, SA Police Services, Police Search and Rescue, Mthonjaneni Lifesaving lifeguards, Netcare 911 ambulance services and KwaZulu Private ambulance services responded.

It appears that a group of 7 people, from Harding, were swimming when 2 males in the group, a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, reportedly got into difficulties in the water and we believe that they were caught in rip currents.

On NSRI arriving on the scene one of the casualties, age 12, was found on the beach. He was in a critical condition suffering non-fatal drowning symptoms, while the 14-year-old was reported to be missing in the water.

NSRI medics rendered medical treatment to the 12-year-old while a search commenced for the missing teenager.

The 12-year-old was stabilised on the beach and transported off the beach in an NSRI off-road rescue vehicle to the ambulance.

He was transported to the hospital by Netcare 911 ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

During a search, the missing 14-year-old was located where he had washed onto rocks, about 250 meters North of where they had been swimming,

NSRI and Police Search and Rescue found the teenager deceased and recovered the body of the teenager from the rocks.

The body 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 teenager.