Boy, 6, drowns at Wilderness lagoon

A SIX-year old boy drowned at the lagoon on Wilderness beach in the Southern Cape at the weekend, while the skipper of a fishing boat died on his boat at sea.

This according to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), which listed several sea rescue incidents at beaches.

The NSRI said the boy had been swimming in the lagoon with his sister when he got into difficulty and had to be taken out of the water by lifeguards.

All efforts to resuscitate him failed and he was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

NSRI Agulhas station commander Reinard Geldenhuys said: “At 9am on Saturday, the NSRI Agulhas duty crew were activated following reports of a fishing boat approaching Struisbaai Harbour that reported its skipper on board to be deceased, suspected of having died of natural causes during the night.

“NSRI Agulhas, the SAPS and local government Health EMS met the boat on her arrival in the harbour.

“The man was confirmed to be deceased and the body taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.”

In another incident in Koegel Bay, lifeguards confirmed that a 17-year-old male had been rescued from the water and that medical assistance and an ambulance were required.

The 17-year-old, from Somerset West, suffered non-fatal drowning symptoms and was transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Recounting the incident, the NSRI said off-duty Big Bay Blouberg lifeguard Djebbe Hiscock noticed two male teenagers in difficulty in heavy surf at Caves (Dappat se Gat).

One of the teenagers managed to get back closer to shore and seemed to be safe and standing in chest deep water.

He was able to exit the surf unassisted, but the second male was caught in rip currents and Hiscock swam out to the teenager, who was barely conscious, and managed to swim him safely to shore.