The City of Cape Town has praised seasonal lifeguards following a busy peak festive season that witnessed thousands of people enjoying the city’s beaches.
Since the beginning of December, there have been seven confirmed fatal drownings at beaches, and one person missing at sea, presumed drowned.
Locally, the only fatal drowning incident was that of a 41-year-old male who died at Kogel Bay on Thursday 28 December. During the incident, City lifeguards, who were on duty in the area at Dappat se Gat Beach, responded to the incident at Kogel Bay Resort.
On arrival at the scene NSRI rescue craft initiated a search in the surf line for a man reported missing. He was located offshore and was recovered onto a rescue craft where CPR efforts commenced onboard the craft.
After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, the man, believed to be from Strandfontein, was declared deceased by paramedics. Police have opened an inquest docket.
Other drowning incidents occurred at Clifton 4th Beach, Strandfontein Beach, Lagoon Beach, Wolfgat coastline, and three incidents at Sonwabe Beach.
“It’s unfortunate that all of these tragic incidents have happened at beaches that are not designated swimming areas, or outside of lifeguard duty hours. We still have a few months of beach weather lying in wait, so I want to renew my appeal to the public to please abide by the rules, for their own safety,” said Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee member for Community Services.
“Swim only where lifeguards are present, and listen to their instructions when you do go into the water. Our lifeguards and support services have been working incredibly hard this season, even extending their hours on occasion where beaches have been very busy. But they can only do so much – safety is a shared responsibility.”
During the same period, there have been 11 non-fatal drownings.
Meanwhile, council’s Identikidz project saw 85 916 children tagged by Monday 1 January. Of these, 263 were reunited with their caregivers.
Participating beaches are Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding areas, Silwerstroom, Strand and Strandfontein.
Maiden’s Cove was included on the list of participating beaches on 26 December and 1 January.
“Beaches along the False Bay coast between Muizenberg and Strand have recorded the highest number of children being tagged since the project started. Unsurprisingly, the New Year’s long weekend has been busiest so far, with 36 959 children tagged, and 198 reunions. Identikidz will still be available over the next three weekends, and we encourage parents to work with us, and use this valuable service,” added Van der Ross.
