A tragic drowning occurred at Strand Beach last Wednesday afternoon (8 January), marking the third such incident at Strand Beach over the festive season.
In the latest, a 17-year-old teenager from Khayelitsha was reported missing in the waters opposite the Topaz apartment building around 14:30.
An extensive search-and-rescue effort was launched, involving multiple agencies including NSRI Gordons Bay, City of Cape Town lifeguards and emergency medical services, the Metro Rescue Drone Unit, Police Water Policing and Diving Services and local police.
Dozens of beachgoers gathered around the scene as family members of the teenager looked on, hoping the child would be found.
Eventually, about two hours later, the teenager’s body was found in shallow waters and he was declared deceased.
“The body of the teenager was taken into the care of police and provincial government’s Health Forensic Pathology Services,” the NSRI confirmed in a statement.
“Police have opened an inquest docket.”
Just two weeks ago, on Saturday 28 December, a nine-year-old boy from Blue Downs drowned at Strand Beach, near the Lourens River.
According to Warrant Officer Nico Beukes, spokesperson for Strand police, an inquest docket was also opened. The exact details of the incident are not known.
The first drowning incident of the festive season occurred on Tuesday 10 December, when a 62-year-old man, an avid surfer from Grabouw lost his life at Strand Beach. (“Drowning at Strand Beach”, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 11 December 2024).
Beachgoers are again advised to swim only between the lifeguard flags, as rip currents are very dangerous and prominent at certain parts of Strand Beach.
