CPUT student drowns after being swept off rocks
CAPE Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is in shock following the drowning of one of its students.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said the university is providing trauma counselling for students who were on the trip to Camps Bay where the drowning took place and family members.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of a first-year student.
“The student was participating in a residence outing in Maiden’s Cove. The student was swept from rocks while scrambling down rocks towards the beach. Her parents have been informed and have already arrived in Cape Town.”
National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said at 16.16pm (on) Saturday, NSRI Bakoven duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following eyewitness reports of at least six persons swept off a rock by waves at Maiden’s Cove, Glen Beach, Camps Bay.
“Eyewitnesses described seeing six people standing on a rock close to the waters edge in the incoming tide and the eyewitnesses from Tamboerskloof watched as a wave swept over the six people, washing them off of the rock.
“The eyewitnesses raised the alarm immediately. NSRI rescue swimmers arriving on the scene found bystanders assisting a female, aged in her late teens, from Bloemfontein, and believed to be a student from a Bellville university.
Lambinon said all efforts were made by bystanders and the NSRI to resuscitate the female. Other bystanders assisted those swept off the rocks out of the water after they had also fallen in between the rocks.
“Another two people swept off the rocks were not injured while others managed to clamber up the rocks and out of danger and they were not injured.”
ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said: “She was placed on life support and rushed through to New Somerset Hospital while paramedics continued to perform CPR.
“Sadly, she died shortly after arriving at hospital.The circumstances surrounding the incident are not yet known.”
Police have opened an inquest docket.
AN Eight-year-old boy drowned at Southbroom Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast yesterday afternoon, Netcare Limited media liaison Nick Dollman said.
“Reports from the scene allege that the victim was swimming in the lagoon with two other boys when the incident occurred.
“The two boys called for help when they noticed their friend was in trouble. Bystanders and life guards entered the water and pulled the boy to the shore. They initiated CPR and called for further assistance.”
Netcare 911 paramedics and other private ambulance services took over the resuscitation effort, but despite their efforts the boy succumbed and was declared dead at the scene, Dollman said.