Tragic Drowning Incident Involving a 46-year-old Man

Hein Köhne, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, said: At 12h34, Wednesday, 1 January, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew and the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Tableview Beach front.

NSRI rescue swimmers, CoCT lifeguards, BBSL (Big Bay Surf Lifesaving) lifeguards, CoCT Law Enforcement, the SA Police Services, ER24 ambulance services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, WC Government Health EMS, Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) and Cape Town DRM (Disaster Risk Management) responded.

West Coast coast watchers were alerted, and the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter was placed on alert by EMS Metro Control.

A BBSL IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) and an NSRI Melkbosstrand JetRib rescue craft were launched and responded.

On arrival on the scene rescuers on the shoreline reported a father and daughter, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy had reached an adult man in the water, in the surf zone, who had been caught in rip currents while swimming, and the Good Samaritans father and daughter were keeping the man afloat with the aid of the pink rescue buoy.

(The father has been trained in lifesaving and the daughter is a former BBSL lifeguard. They are locals.)

The lifeguards rescue boat reached them in the surf zone and took the casualty man onboard their rescue craft and he was brought to the shore - he was unresponsive.

Once ashore paramedics commenced CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on the 46 year old man, from Philippi, Cape Town.

The lifeguards relaunched their rescue craft and brought the father and daughter, Good Samaritans, ashore. They were not injured. They are commended for their efforts.

Despite extensive CPR efforts by paramedics, 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 Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

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