Boy (6) drowns in Wilderness
Tragedy struck on Sunday 16 December shortly before 18:00 when a 6-year-old boy from Thembalethu drowned in the Wilderness lagoon. The boy and his sister were swimming in the lagoon when he got into difficulty.
According to NSRI Wilderness deputy station commander, Mike Vonk, the boy was recovered from the lagoon at main beach by lifeguards and CPR was commenced immediately. "ER24 paramedics, Sea Rescue medics and a senior lifeguard continued resuscitation efforts on the child, after which he was transported to hospital by ER24. They continued with CPR en route to hospital and in hospital but sadly, after all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted, he was declared deceased. Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the child," said Vonk. An inquest docket has been opened. An ER24 response paramedic and ER24 ambulance responded to the scene. Members of NSRI Wilderness, SANParks rangers, George Fire and Rescue Services, local police and George municipal law enforcement officers were also on the scene. Southern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, confirmed the incident.
Woman saved from drowning
Earlier the same day lifeguards at Victoria Bay rescued a 22-year-old woman from the water. The Wilderness NSRI crew, who were at the sea rescue base at the time doing routine training, were notified.
They responded in the NSRI rescue vehicle and requested support from emergency services as the woman had trouble breathing and was complaining of chest pain. "On arrival at a busy Victoria
Bay the woman, from Oudtshoorn, was in the care of lifeguards," said Vonk. "Sea Rescue medics assisted lifeguards with the medical management of the woman and administered oxygen until the ambulance arrived. She was transported to hospital in a stable condition for treatment for non-fatal drowning symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery."