A man is deceased at Nature's Valley

At 17h41, Saturday, 10 January, NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew and NSRI coast watchers, at Natures Valley, were activated following multiple eyewitness reports of a drowning in progress at Natures Valley Lagoon, Grootrivier, Natures Valley.

Our NSRI duty crew, NSRI rescue swimmers, NSRI medics and an NSRI doctor, responded in our NSRI Plettenberg Bay rescue vehicle.

NSRI coast watchers, at Natures Valley, dispatched our NSRI all-terrain vehicle - stationed at our NSRI Plettenberg Bay satellite station at Natures Valley.

The SA Police Services and WC Government Health EMS responded - EMS dispatched their Metro rescue squad and EMS ambulance.

On arrival on the scene, bystander CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were in progress on a local 24-year-old male on the lagoon shoreline. The casualty had been located and recovered from underwater in the lagoon by 4 Good Samaritans - 3 local men and a German man.

NSRI coast watchers, from Natures Valley, assisted with CPR - using equipment from our NSRI all-terrain vehicle - and they were joined by medical advanced life support - our NSRI doctor and NSRI medics - who were assisted with CPR efforts by a British doctor, who happened to be in the area and who volunteered her assistance.

EMS paramedics, arriving on the scene, assisted with the extensive CPR efforts, but after all extensive efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted sadly, the man was declared deceased.

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

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

It appears that the man got into difficulties while swimming in the lagoon. Multiple eyewitnesses raised the alarm while a group of men searched the water for the casualty man who had disappeared underwater. 4 male Good Samaritans located and recovered the man from underwater and initiated CPR after bringing the man ashore.

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