- A 25-year-old man died and a 30-year-old man was fighting for his life after being caught in rip currents at Milnerton Lagoon Beach on Monday afternoon (11 December).
- Local residents, hearing shouts for help, spotted the two men caught in the currents and rushed to the beach to assist.
- Lifeguards, stationed at the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club, arrived on the scene and initiated medical treatment on both men.
A 25-year-old man died and a 30-year-old man was fighting
for his life after being caught in rip currents at Milnerton Lagoon Beach on Monday afternoon (11 December).
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said local
residents, hearing shouts for help, spotted the two men caught in the currents
and rushed to the beach to assist.
Lifeguards, stationed at the Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club,
arrived on the scene and initiated medical treatment on both men.
READ | Lifeguard heroes brave the waves to rescue teen girl at Milnerton Beach
“A local resident, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy stationed
at the beach, rescued both men and brought them onto the beach,” NSRI
spokesperson Craig Lambinon related, “where one, aged 25, fell unconscious and
the other, aged 30, appeared in a serious condition. They were both from
Zimbabwe. The 25-year-old’s pulse ceased and he stopped breathing, and
lifeguards initiated CPR efforts. They were joined by paramedics who continued
with advanced life support CPR on him while medically stabilising the 30-year-old
man. After all efforts to resuscitate the 25-year-old man were exhausted he was
sadly declared deceased. His body was taken into the care of police and
government health Forensic Pathology Services.”
The survivor was transported to hospital by ER24 ambulance
in a critical condition
READ | Heroic lifeguards rescue beachgoers at Milnerton Lagoon Beach, Cape Town
Lambinon said it appeared a group of friends had been at the
beach since mid-morning when the two men were caught in rip currents while
swimming.
The NSRI, lifeguards, police and combined emergency services
appeal to bathers to swim only at beaches protected by lifeguards.
“The local residents are commended, despite the sad outcome,
for their swift reaction that managed to get both men to the beach,” said
Lambinon. “Our thoughts are with the survivor at the hospital, where doctors
and nurses are fighting to save his life.”
Police have opened an inquest docket.
