The victim of a drowning at Strand Beach last Tuesday (10 December) has been identified as 62-year-old Warren Dunton of Grabouw.
According to Ryan Holmes, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Gordon’s Bay station commander, duty crew and respondents forming part of the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network were activated around 09:00 following reports of a drowning in progress.
“Reports were received that a local man, appearing to be in difficulty in the surf with a long board, had been rescued from the water assisted by bystanders, but was unresponsive,” he said.
“NSRI Gordon’s Bay, ER24 ambulance services, Western Cape Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS), GB Med Rescue and Immediate paramedics and police responded.
“On arrival on the scene, extensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were continued by paramedics, but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly the man was declared deceased.”
Holmes said the body of the man was taken into the care of police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
According to Strand police, spokesperson Warrant Officer Nico Beukes, the deceased has been identified and police have opened an inquest docket.
“He went with friend to surf at the main beach in Strand,” Beukes said.
“A moment later one of the same group of surfers noticed that a male was floating in water with his head down.
“They managed with the help of others to get the surfer on shore and immediately started with CPR without any success.
“It became evident that the victim didn’t show any sign of life.”
The City’s Recreation and Parks Department has recorded five fatal drowning incidents around the Cape Town coast over the past month.
“These incidents are absolutely heart-breaking,” said Mayoral Committee member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross. “Unfortunately we are noting the same trend that underpinned all our fatal drowning incidents last season.
“All the incidents have taken place either outside lifeguard duty hours or outside designated bathing areas. I want to renew my appeal to the public, please, to take our golden rules for summer to heart.
“Our coastline is breathtaking, but there is a reason we have designated bathing areas, and why we need you to swim under the watchful eye of our lifeguards.
“Let’s all work together to avoid any further loss of life this season.”
The Identikidz programme was also launched on Saturday 14 December and will run through most dates until Sunday 12 January between 09:00 and 18:30. Participating beaches include Gordon’s Bay, Strand and Harmony Park.
