Fatal drowning at Betty’s Bay beach mars New Year’s celebrations

The fatal drowning of a 20-year-old man marred New Year’s Day celebrations at Betty’s Bay Main Beach on Wednesday.

A Good Samaritan spotted the man in difficulty in the surf and was able to bring him to shore.

The man is believed to have been caught in a riptide off the main beach of the Western Cape holiday spot.

The rescue attracted the attention of three doctors enjoying some downtime on the beach, and they rushed to the man’s aid.

Emergency services including the South African Police Service, EMS and the National Sea Rescue Institute responded to distress calls and arrived on the scene between 15:00 and 16:00 on New Year’s Day.

Fatal drowning on New Year’s Day

Despite the efforts of the doctors and emergency services to revive the man, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“At 15:26, on Wednesday 1 January, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following a police request for assistance at Betty’s Bay Main Beach. CPR efforts commenced on a male rescued from the surf by a Good Samaritan,” NSRI Kleinmond station commander Schalk Boonzaaier said.

“NSRI Kleinmond duty crew, CMC ambulance services and Western Cape government EMS responded to join police on the scene.

“On our arrival on the scene, we found three private doctors, who are separately on holiday in the area and happened to be there at the time, performing CPR on a male aged 20, from Strand, and who had been rescued from the water by a Good Samaritan after reportedly being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming.

“NSRI and paramedics joined the doctors’ efforts, but sadly – despite extensive CPR efforts -, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared deceased.”

As is standard practice in a fatal drowning incident, the SAPS have opened a death inquest docket to look into the cause of death.

A busy day for NSRI Kleinmond

The volunteers at NSRI Kleinmond had a busy New Year’s day with three additional incidents attended on Wednesday 1 January. They were the non-fatal drowning of a 28-year-old Moroccan man, another non-fatal but serious drowning of a 6-year-old boy and the rescue of a seal pup.

“Also at Betty’s Bay a 28-year-old man from Morocco, in what appeared to be a separate incident at Betty’s Bay Main Beach, was treated for non-fatal drowning symptoms and he required no further assistance.

“At 17h13, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew, WC Government Health EMS and CMC ambulance services responded to Kleinmond Lagoon following a request for assistance from Police reporting an incident where lifeguards had rescued a 6-year-old male child reportedly from under [the] water, and urgent medical attention was required.

“NSRI and paramedics joined lifeguards treating the child for non-fatal drowning symptoms and the child, from Crossroads, in Cape Town, has been transported to hospital by ambulance in a serious but stable condition.

“Earlier, at 12h46, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew rescued a seal pup that was found by members of the public trapped in amongst rocks near to Kleinmond harbour.

“Using blankets NSRI crew were able to free the seal pup from the entrapment, and the seal pup was released back to the sea and swam away confidently.”