NSRI Still Bay: Jongensfontein - A man is deceased

At 14h00, Friday, 14 August, NSRI Still Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man unconscious in the surf zone at Sandstrand, Jongensfontein, near Still Bay.

NSRI Still Bay responds after surfer collapses during competition at Jongensfontein

At 14h00 on Friday, 14 August, NSRI Still Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a man unconscious in the surf zone at Sandstrand, Jongensfontein, near Still Bay.

The NSRI rescue craft Breede Rescuer, on the water at the time and in the vicinity of a local surfing competition taking place at Jongensfontein, diverted to respond, while NSRI crew, NSRI medics, and Western Cape Government Health EMS also responded.

While en route to the scene, reports indicated that bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts were already under way on the shoreline, on a man who had been taking part in the surfing competition.

On arriving at the scene, Breede Rescuer deployed two NSRI crew members to swim ashore, where they assisted with CPR on the 61-year-old man, from Stellenbosch.

Additional NSRI crew members and EMS paramedics arrived on the scene and assisted with the CPR efforts.

Despite extensive efforts to resuscitate him, the man was declared deceased.

Police attended the scene, where his body was taken into the care of the police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Police have opened an inquest docket.

It appears that the man collapsed unconscious while surfing. Fellow surfers brought him to the shoreline while raising the alarm, and began CPR once he was ashore.

Condolences are conveyed to his family, friends, and the surfing community.