Clifton: Suspected Fatal Female Drowning

Police are investigating – following an adult female, believed to be a local, who was discovered lifeless in the water, off-shore of Clifton, on Sunday morning.

The circumstances remain unknown and Police are investigating.

A group of local open water swimmers, while swimming off-shore of Clifton’s Second Beach, noticed the female face down in the water. They are commended for swiftly rescuing the lady to the shoreline and raising the alarm.

The Good Samaritan rescuers initiated CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts and they were joined by a doctor, who happened to be at the beach at the time, and who is commended for swiftly assisting.

At 08h06, Sunday, 11 February, the CoCT (City of Cape Town) water rescue network was activated, initially to reports of a drowning in progress but within minutes eyewitnesses confirmed that Good Samaritans had rescued a lady to the shoreline and CPR was in progress.

NSRI Bakoven medics, NSRI Table Bay medics, WC Government Health EMS, Netcare 911 ambulance services, Community Medics, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, CoCT Law Enforcement, the SA Police Services and Cape Town Traffic Services responded.

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

On arrival on the scene paramedics continued with advance life support CPR, assisted by the off-duty doctor.

After all efforts to resuscitate the female were exhausted sadly she was declared deceased.

The body of the female was taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

While it appears that the lady had been swimming at the time Police are investigating and an Inquest docket has been opened by Police.

Formal identification of the deceased is in progress, in cooperation with Police and Forensic Pathology Services.

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