NSRI Melkbosstrand: Table View - A man is deceased

NSRI Melkbosstrand responds after surfer collapses at Bloubergstrand Beach

At 10h20 on Saturday, 15 August, NSRI Melkbosstrand duty crew were activated following eyewitness reports of a surfer in distress in the surf zone at Bloubergstrand Beach, Table View.

NSRI Melkbosstrand rescue swimmers and an NSRI rescue vehicle responded, along with Western Cape Government Health EMS, Community Medics, Netcare 911 ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), the SA Police Service, and Big Bay Surf Lifesaving (BBSL) lifeguards.

On arrival at the scene at Bloubergstrand Beach, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts were already in progress on a 54-year-old man.

Paramedics continued with extensive CPR efforts. Despite these efforts, the man was declared deceased.

His body has been taken into the care of the police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket.

Table View Neighbourhood Watch counsellors attended the scene, caring for the family of the deceased man, from Plattekloof, Cape Town, in cooperation with the police.

It appears that the man was surfing with his 23-year-old son when he collapsed unresponsive. His son, using his surfboard, assisted his father towards the shoreline. It is believed that a bystander, a Good Samaritan using an NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, also assisted. Together, the son and the Good Samaritan were able to bring the man to the beach, where bystander CPR was commenced.

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