The NSRI has had a busy season and several tragic incidents have occurred in the George and Wilderness area.
George Municipal lifeguards at Wilderness Main Beach responded to a scene where three family siblings, from George, were caught in rip currents.
Picture: 1ieve/Flickr Commons
Lifeguards reached the 10-year-old girl in the mid-surf breakers finding her unresponsive. After extensive efforts to resuscitate her were exhausted, she was pronounced dead.
Her 16-year-old sister was also unresponsive, and lifeguards brought her to shore and initiated emergency medical treatment. She was stabilised and hospitalised, and is expected to fully recover.
Their brother was brought to shore safely and uninjured. Members of the public rallied around to assist and support the emergency services on the scene.
In a separate incident, the NSRI Wilderness duty crew was activated following reports from lifeguards who had launched a search at Victoria Bay for an adult male that they suspected to have gone missing in the surf line while swimming.
NSRI rescue crafts and the Fire and Rescue Services joined lifeguards at Victoria Bay in an extensive search that has revealed no sign of the swimmer.
No persons on the beach reported anyone missing until later when friends of a 26-year-old man from George came forward reporting that they had not seen their friend for some time at the beach. The man is still missing and police are investigating.
‘We appeal to all South Africans and tourists visiting our country to adopt a safety-conscious mindset in and around water,’ said Cleeve Robertson, NSRI CEO.
‘We commend our NSRI volunteers and operations support teams, as well as public members, Police, Law Enforcement, Fire and Rescue, lifeguards, private and Government ambulance services, Disaster Risk Management, Community support structures, Government and Provincial services,’ Robertson added, ‘as well as all volunteer emergency services for their ongoing support assistance, vigilance and service during this busy festive season for their contribution promoting safety and security for everyone.’
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