NSRI Wilderness: Man Dies After Drowning Accident at Leentjiesklip Beach

A local man has died following a drowning accident at Leentjiesklip Beach, Wilderness, after two fathers went into the water to help their teenage sons caught in rip currents. The two teenagers and the other father were rescued

Jonathan Britton, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said:

At 17h31, Saturday, 24 October, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Leentjiesklip Beach, Wilderness.

It appears that 2 male teenagers were caught in rip currents.
2 fathers, of the 2 the teenagers, had launched into the water to assist their sons and the alarm had been raised.

The 2 families are friends, they are a local man and his teenage son and a German man and his teenage son.

NSRI rescue swimmers, the SA Police Service, WC Government Health EMS, ER24 ambulance service and George Fire and Rescue Service responded.

One of the teenagers, a 14 year old, from Germany, had managed to self rescue to the beach. He was taken into the care of NSRI medics and later taken into the care of paramedics.

An NSRI rescue swimmer launched into the water to go to the assistance of the 2 adults and the teenager who were in distress the surf zone.

Our NSRI duty crew launched 2 NSRI rescue craft, Ann Stratford and Oscars Rescuer.

One of the fathers, from Germany, and the remaining teenager, who is a local teenager, were both rescued to the beach. They were taken into the care of NSRI medics and later taken into the care of paramedics.

The second father, a local man, he was located lifeless in the water by NSRI and he was rescued to the beach where CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced by NSRI medics and CPR efforts were joined by paramedics.

Despite extensive CPR efforts, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly the man was declared deceased.

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

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

The surviving dad and the 2 teenagers were transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance and they are recovering in the care of doctors and nurses.

A case of Inquest has been opened by Police.

Thoughts and care are with the families in this difficult time.