A 49-year-old Austrian tourist has died following a drowning accident during the peak spring high tide at Leentjiesklip Beach, Wilderness, on Saturday, 31 January.
According to NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon, at 15:00, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports of drowning incidents.
He stated that on-duty George Municipal NSRI lifeguards had gone to the assistance of three swimmers (two males and a female) who were caught in rip currents during the spring high tide.
Lambinon noted that in addition to the NSRI rescue swimmers, an additional number of George Municipal NSRI lifeguards, Western Cape Government Health EMS, George Fire and Rescue Services, George Municipal Law Enforcement officers, and the South African Police Service also responded to the rescue mission.
Commenting on the Austrian man’s drowning, Lambinon explained that the man was assisted in the surf zone by George Municipal NSRI lifeguards, NSRI rescue swimmers, and bystanders acting as Good Samaritans.
He said that together they brought the man to the beach, where CPR efforts commenced and were joined by paramedics.
“The man was transported to hospital by EMS ambulance in a critical condition after a faint pulse had been restored, with resuscitation efforts continuing in the ambulance en route to hospital.
“Despite extensive resuscitation efforts continuing in hospital under the care of doctors and nurses, after all efforts to stabilise the man were exhausted, the man was sadly declared deceased by doctors during Saturday night,” he explained.
He added that assistance and logistics are being coordinated by NSRI, the Austrian Consulate, and local Southern Cape Tourism Assist, in cooperation with police.
He also noted that an inquest docket has been opened by police.
The two other beachgoers, a 19-year-old female and her 21-year-old male friend, were successfully rescued from the dangerous rip currents and sustained no injuries during the incident.
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