Tragic Drowning Incident at Tietiesbaai – One Deceased, One Recovering in Hospital

At 15h47, Tuesday, 7 October, NSRI St Helena Bay and NSRI Mykonos duty crews were activated following initial reports indicating that a boat may have capsized at Tietiesbaai, at the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve, West Coast.

The SA Police Services, WC Government Health EMS and West Coast Medical Rescue had responded to the incident where it reportedly became evident that while angling from the shoreline there may have been three locals, 2 men and a female, fishing on rocks along the shoreline. The female, age 26, from Paternoster, had reportedly fallen into the surf where her boyfriend, age 26, who is living in Paternoster, had attempted to rescue her from the water, while, we believe, their male friend had gone to get help.

Paramedics had medically treated the 26 year old male on the scene before transporting him to hospital in a West Coast Medical Rescue ambulance, he was in a serious condition, and he is recovering in hospital.

The female was missing in the surf zone.

An NSRI Mykonos rescue vehicle responded while NSRI St Helena Bay duty crew launched the NSRI rescue craft Rotary Onwards to join Police and EMS Metro Rescue on the scene.

Police WPDS (Water Policing and Diving Services) were alerted.

On NSRI arrival on the scene it was found that a private drone was in operation searching for the female in the water and the NSRI rescue craft joined in the search.

It was confirmed that this was not a boat capsizing, but anglers who were fishing from the shoreline, who were involved in the incident.

During the air, sea and shoreline search the drone located the female in the water.

The NSRI rescue craft, guided to the location by the drone, located and recovered the female from the water and resuscitation efforts were commenced.

The NSRI rescue craft brought the female to St Helena Bay harbour where EMS paramedics boarded the rescue craft but sadly the female was declared deceased by paramedics.

The body of the deceased female 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 female.