What was meant to be the last day of the school holidays turned tragic when an eight-year-old boy drowned at the Camps Bay Tidal Pool on Monday 5 October.

According to reports, the boy, who lives in Bellville, was visiting the tidal pool with his family when he got into difficulty while playing in the water.

His mother reportedly saw him floating unresponsive in the pool.

Craig Lambinon, spokesperson for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), said the boy was recovered from the water and a bystander administered CPR.

Emergency personnel were deployed to the scene and performed advanced life support CPR efforts.

However, after all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted, he was declared deceased by paramedics.

Capt Liaan Janse van Rensburg, Camps Bay police station commander, said an inquest into the drowning is being conducted.

He expressed his condolences to the boy’s family and urged beachgoers to remain vigilant, particularly when children are playing in or near the water, as the holiday season approaches.

“We urge parents and caregivers to be vigilant when children are swimming in the water. Always keep an eye on them and ensure that they do go too deep into the water. Ensure that they are swimming where lifeguards are on duty,” he said.

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