Three die and 15 near-drownings

THE National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) reported three drownings, a missing man, two injuries and 15 near-drownings at beaches on the Western Cape coastline yesterday.

In Gordons Bay a 12-yearold girl from Khayelitsha was revived after bystanders conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

She was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

In Camps Bay, paramedics initiated CPR efforts on a 60-year-old man who was pulled from the surf by lifeguards.

The man was declared dead by paramedics after efforts to resuscitate him were exhausted. His body has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and police have opened an inquest docket.

Ian Klopper, the NSRI Kommetjie station commander, said a 70-year-old woman was found floating face down in the water by bystanders while bodyboarding at Kommetjie. She was brought unconscious to shore.

NSRI Kommetjie medics and Cape Medical Response responded and found her in a critical condition.

She was taken to hospital on a trauma board with her spine secured after suspicions that she may have suffered a neck injury.

A few minutes later, the NSRI Kommetjie duty crew responded to a call from Noordhoek Beach where a man, believed to be aged 24, was swept out to sea by rip currents after going into the surf after a game of soccer on the beach.

“After he disappeared under water, his friends had to run to the built-up area some distance away, where the alarm was raised,” said Klopper

The man’s body was later spotted 100m off Noordhoek Beach.

NSRI Kommetjie rescue swimmers recovered his body.