NSRI Lifeguards swiftly respond to drowning beyond the safety zone at Clanwilliam Dam.

At approximately 14h40, Wednesday, 20 December, NSRI lifeguards, on duty at Clanwilliam Dam main swimming area, were alerted to a drowning in progress a distance away from the lifeguard protected area, on the far side of the dam.

the NSRI lifeguards, WC Government Health EMS and the SA Police Services responded.

On arrival on the scene, it was indicated to the lifeguards where a teenager had gone missing under water while swimming.

The lifeguards launched into the water to free dive search and they located the teenager under water.

On bringing the Northern Cape 17-year-old male to the surface and then swimming the lifeless teenager to the shore lifeguards initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts.

During CPR efforts a pulse was restored to the patient who remained in a critical condition and unconscious.

On EMS paramedics arriving on the scene medical treatment continued but the patient again went into cardiac arrest and CPR was resumed.

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

The body of the teenager was taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an inquest docket.

Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased teenager.

It appears that local teenagers and children had gone to the far side dam to cool off when the teenager got into difficulty while swimming and disappeared under water.