The City of Cape Town is encouraging the public to be careful around water as the summer season approaches. Photo: City of Cape Town.
Cape Town beaches face rising drowning concerns this Summer
As Cape Town gears up to welcome summer vacationers, concerns persist over beach drownings. Last summer, 19 lives were lost.
The City of Cape Town is encouraging the public to be careful around water as the summer season approaches. Photo: City of Cape Town.
Cape Town authorities are getting ready to welcome holidaymakers this summer, but there’s a big worry about drownings at city beaches.
In the previous summer, at least 19 people lost their lives at Mother City beaches. And a year before that, Cape Town recorded 27 drowning incidents, according to EWN.
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CAPE TOWN BEACHES FACE RISING DROWNING CONCERNS IN SUMMER
Helen Jordaan, a professional officer in the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, warned that kids under 15 face the highest drowning risk.
She noted 50% occurred on weekends, holidays, and in the summer.
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She expressed shock at the alarming statistics. Explaining, she emphasized the profound impact on families, rescuers, and communities affected by drowning.
“When you go down the list and you start to look at the age group, where the individuals are coming from, not to mention just that but the impact that one drowning has on the individual’s family, the rescuers that have come out to try and revive the person, a number of different knock-on effects are being touched by drowning.”
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CITY WARNS AGAINST BRINGING ALCOHOL
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis anticipates large crowds at city beaches in the upcoming summer season. The mayor unveiled the beach safety plan, prioritizing coastal safety in the next few months.
Highlighting that safety is paramount, Hill-Lewis emphasised the prohibition of alcohol on city beaches for beachgoers.
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He stated, “We’ll remove all alcohol from the beaches. Officers have tricks to find hidden bottles, ensuring compliance.”
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