Two die in New Year’s Day drownings

TWO men drowned on Western Cape beaches as mense celebrated the New Year. 

A 38-year-old man from Elsies River died following an apparent drowning at Strand Beach on the early morning of the New Year, January 1.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), its Gordon’s Bay rescue crew was alerted shortly after 9.30am when a woman approached rescuers stationed at the Strand Beach satellite rescue station, reporting a possible drowning. 

City of Cape Town lifeguards from the Strand Surf Lifesaving Club and those patrolling Strand Beach sprang into action immediately and a search operation was launched. 

Lifeguards and NSRI crews scouring the area on foot, in the water and by rescue craft, while the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre monitored CCTV footage.

The NSRI said in a statement: “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 lifeguards who initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts.”

Emergency responders from the Western Cape government's Emergency Medical Services, private ambulance services, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services, City's law enforcement, Disaster Risk Management and the police joined the rescue teams on scene and continued advanced resuscitation efforts.

All attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful. Strand police have since opened an inquest for investigation following the incident.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said: “The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, after all efforts to resuscitate the victim were exhausted. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.”

At Langebaan Main Beach, a 26-year-old man from Burundi was declared dead after being pulled from the water on Thursday afternoon. 

National Sea Rescue Institute Mykonos station commander Nic Stevens said the NSRI duty crew was activated at 5.02pm following reports of CPR in progress after the man was pulled from the water by a kiteboarder, who brought him to shore. 

But despite extensive efforts by paramedics, the man was declared dead. 

An inquest docket has been opened and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.