A father has sadly died after trying to rescue his son at Glenmore Beach in Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal. Image: Pixabay
Two Singaporean tourists DROWN at Crocodile River
About 20 tourists from Singapore were canoeing along the Crocodile River, between Hartbeespoort Dam and the Lion Park
A father has sadly died after trying to rescue his son at Glenmore Beach in Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal. Image: Pixabay
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has confirmed that two tourists who had been canoeing along the Crocodile River, between the Lion Park and Hartbeespoort Dam, have drowned.
As NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon explains, the incident happened during a river canoe expedition involving a total of 26 people – 20 tourists from Singapore and six local river guides.
“While responding to the scene it was determined that during a river canoe expedition involving a total of 26 persons – 20 Singapore tourists and 6 local river guides. It was reported that 8 tourists had capsized on 4 canoes. The 6 river guides were assisting and reported that CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts had been commenced on 1 male tourist and 1 female tourist. 6 tourists (males and females) and 2 (of the 6) river guides, (both males) needed help in the water. On arrival on the scene, paramedics conducted CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) efforts on an adult male and an adult female. Despite extensive CPR efforts to the 2 patients, both the man and the woman were sadly declared deceased by paramedics,” Lambinon said in a statement.
He added that two river guides were stabilised by paramedics and transported to hospital where they are currently recovering.
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FATAL INCIDENT BEING PROBED
Six of the tourists as well as two river guides were rescued from the water with the cooperation of the river guides, the tourists themselves and the emergency services.
“The remaining 6 tourists rescued from the water were treated for injuries on the scene before being released. The bodies of the deceased have been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” he added.
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A DOZEN SINGAPOREAN TOURISTS UNHARMED
Authorities have since opened an inquest docket to determine the cause of the water-related incident. A dozen members of the group were not injured.
According to Lambinon, all casualties were accounted for and the tour operator is assisting the tourists and families of those affected in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
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