Hidden dangers at city’s placid waters
The summer holiday season has not yet begun and already the tragedy of children drowning became a reality on Saturday.
Away from the eyes of our professional lifeguards, and while hundreds of merrymakers socialised close by, a young adult man and his little sister drowned in what appeared to be calm, placid waters.
How terrible that a blessed day of fun in the sun for these youngsters ended in a nightmare for their families and friends.
This particular tragic incident took place next to the T-jetty at Alkantstrand, on a small beach towards the skiboat club.
Once more, the incident took place in an area long declared a ‘no swimming’ zone, where the water is shallow and there are no waves, rip tides or apparent strong currents.
But it is a scenario all too often repeated at all the recreational areas in the general vicinity of the Bay Hall, Pelican Island and Naval Island.
A number of factors contribute to the heart-breaking phenomena.
The first is that the area gives a false sense of security; the tranquil, shallow waters conceal hidden dangers due to the vast difference in the high tide and low tide profile of the sea bed.
At times, it is possible to walk out for great distances without encountering a hole, depression, ledge or shelf on the sand floor below.
At other times, just a few metres from the shoreline, one treads off a ridge into sudden, deep water – with fatal consequences for non-swimmers.
The danger has been aired many times in this newspaper.
Authorities have issued countless warnings, to no avail.
The municipality has erected warning signs, which are ignored.
Sea Rescue has added to this, even dividing the beach areas into zones, distinctly marked on notice boards, to facilitate precise reaction for emergency rescue teams in the event of reported drownings.
Where possible, pink rescue buoys have been erected – but all too often this potential lifesaving apparatus is stolen.
Many drownings occur either at places where there are no duty lifeguards or after lifeguards have gone off duty.
A ban on bathing in the area is impractical; if the sun is hot and the water is cool, people will swim.
It is a beautiful recreational area that is well suited to swimming and leisure activities, and it would be criminal to disallow access to this Godgiven amenity.
The waterfront areas in Richards Bay are vast, and it is impossible to man them at all hours of the day.
Other than parental control, adult supervision and heeding the warning signs, the only proper solution lies in education.
School and other groups who arrive should be confronted by multi-lingual notice boards depicting the dangers.
Loudspeaker announcements on busy days would also help.
Leaflets in taxis and buses that convey bathers to the beachfront area, with diagrams showing the hidden dangers underfoot, could likewise play a vital role in saving lives.
Of course, the control of alcohol coming on to the beach areas would help immensely.