Strand Drowning

At approximately 09h35, 1 January, NSRI Gordons Bay rescue crew, standing by at the NSRI Gordons Bay satellite rescue station, at Strand Beach, were approached by a lady claiming that there was a drowning in progress but it appears that the lady could not indicate where along the beach the incident was occurring.

NSRI Gordons Bay crew alerted CoCT (City of Cape Town) lifeguards, at Strand Surf Lifesaving Club and the CoCT lifeguards patrolling Strand Beach, where lifeguards, assisted by NSRI, immediately launched a search in the area along the beach while NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) viewed CCTV footage.

The CoCT water rescue network was alerted.

CoCT lifeguards and NSRI launched rescue craft and lifeguards swam towards bathers in the bathing area – initiating an extensive search.

Shortly after initiating a search along the beach a man was discovered floating lifeless in the water, in the surf zone, and he was recovered to the beach by CoCT lifeguards who initiated CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts, they were assisted by NSRI crew.

WC Government Health EMS, GB Med Sec ambulance services, ER24 ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, CoCT Law Enforcement, DRM (Disaster Risk Management), and the SA Police Services, alerted by the CoCT water rescue network, and who were responding, joined the lifeguards and NSRI in the extensive CPR efforts.

After all efforts to resuscitate the 38 year old male, from Elsies River, were exhausted on the scene paramedics sadly declared the man deceased.

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

Police have opened an Inquest docket.

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