Recovery of body from drowning in a river
The body of a teenager, who drowned in Steenbras Dam in the Kogel Bay Nature Reserve, was recovered, says the Western Cape disaster management services.
“The 16-year-old’s body was recovered this morning by rescue workers and SAPS divers,” said spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes on Sunday morning.
Kyle Kotze was on a hike with his Dutch Reform Church group when he fell into the dam and drowned.
Solomons-Johannes said the group arrived at the nature reserve before it officially opened on Saturday, and had not obtained the relevant permit before entering.
“The park’s rangers therefore had no opportunity to explain the conditions of entry and safety guidelines of the reserve,” he said.
The church group reported Kotze’s accident on Saturday, but emergency services were unable to retrieve the Kotze’s body.
The search was called off until Sunday because of the hazardous and extremely dark environment, Solomons-Johannes said.
Kotze’s body was retrieved on Sunday morning in a disaster management services co-ordinated operation. [SAPA]