Drownings in Durban and in Pietermaritzburg left three people dead, the youngest of which a nine-year-old boy.
In the first incident a nine-year-old boy was pulled from the surf off Wedge Beach north of Addington Hospital this morning. It is thought that the boy had been swimming at the unprotected beach when he got into distress and was pulled out. He was noticed by a surfer who managed to pull the boy to shore and initiate CPR.
Netcare911 Paramedics arrived and took over care of the child. Medics attempted to resuscitate the boy for nearly an hour before he was declared dead.
Later a thirty seven-year-old man drowned in the surf off Winklespruit beach south of Durban.
It is thought that the man had been swimming in the surf when he was pulled out to the backline by a strong rip current. He was immersed in water for nearly three minutes when he was pulled to the shore by lifeguards who had swum to his aid.
When Netcare911 Paramedics arrived at the scene they initiated an advanced life support resuscitation attempt which sadly failed and they man was declared dead at the scene.
This evening a man in his twenties died in an incident at Unisa’s Pietermaritzburg campus.
It is thought that the man had been swimming in their campuses pool when he was, for an unknown reason, submerged in the water.
He was pulled from the water by those who witnessed the incident and Netcare911 Paramedics were called. Unfortunately the man died prior to their arrival and was declared dead.
Jeffrey Wicks
Netcare 911