Child (9) in critical condition after near drowning in Simon’s Town

A renewed call for caution at beaches has been issued, after a nine-year-old narrowly survived a near drowning incident in Simon’s Town.

The boy was one of two children who nearly drowned at Glencairn Beach on Monday during a school outing. The National Sea Rescue Institute says the children were swimming in a tidal pool, when they got into difficulty in the waters. NSRI spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, says the boys were rescued from the tidal pool when rescue teams arrived.

“[Two] Australian doctors, who we believe may be part of the NGO accompanying the children and the school, had conducted CPR on one of the children and a pulse and spontaneous breathing had been restored… The second child was in a stable condition.”

The nine-year-old boy was assisted by rescue teams, who then arranged for him to be airlifted to the nearest hospital.

ALSO READ: NSRI Campaign on Water Safety for Children

Lambinon says the circumstances surrounding the near drowning incident are unclear

“We believe that the 9-year-old child remains in a critical condition in the care of doctors and nurses in hospital but is believed to be stable. Thoughts are with the family of the child in this difficult time.”

This incident occurred on the same day that the City of Cape Town launched its festive season beach safety initiative. The City deployed more than 680 lifeguards to beaches and other swimming facilities across the metropole. It says this is a record deployment.

The Identikidz safety project was also launched. Last year, this saw over 133,000 children tagged during the busy festive season. The project is aimed at keeping children safe from getting lost at beaches.

And while the City says it is doing all it can to protect beachgoers, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross, has called on residents and tourists to play their part.

“Our lifeguards are dedicated professionals who play a crucial role in safeguarding beachgoers, but it is a shared responsibility. Please adhere to the rules, and support our lifeguards, so that we can ensure a safe and memorable beach experience for everyone.”

ALSO READ: The NSRI’s Pink Rescue Buoy Project has saved 200 lives!