What should have been a family outing to Camps Bay ended in tragedy on Monday evening after an eight-year-old boy drowned at the popular tidal pool.
Laker / Pexels / Illustrative purposes only
The boy was visiting the area with his family when they found him unresponsive in the water at around 17:41 on 5 October.
Emergency teams respond
Bystanders pulled the child from the water and immediately began CPR.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) sent its Bakoven crew and medics to the scene after receiving an alert about the drowning.
Clifton Surf Lifesaving and City of Cape Town lifeguards also responded. Western Cape Government Health EMS, ER24, community medics, City Law Enforcement, the South African Police Service and the Camps Bay City Improvement District joined the emergency response.
Paramedics continued advanced life support efforts at the scene. Despite their efforts, the child could not be revived.
Family left devastated
According to the NSRI, the boy had been playing in and around the tidal pool with his family before they found him unresponsive.
The family reportedly comes from Somalia and lives in Cape Town. Police are assisting the family following the tragedy.
Western Cape Government Health Forensic Pathology Services took the child’s body after paramedics declared him deceased. Police have also opened an inquest into the incident.
The drowning adds to a difficult period along the Western Cape coastline, with several incidents reported in recent weeks. For this family, however, the loss is deeply personal. A familiar day beside the sea has ended in an unimaginable tragedy.
The incident also serves as a reminder that even popular swimming spots can become dangerous quickly, especially when children are near the water.
Source (Smile 90.4FM)
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