Twelve people have died as the result of drowning in Cape Town, between December last year and January this year.
The City released the total number of drowning incidents, as sea rescue teams continue the search for a man who went missing at Monwabisi beach on Monday. The 23-year-old man from Khayelitsha is said to have been caught in rip currents, when he disappeared under water.
Just a day prior, a teenager drowned at Fish Hoek beach. According to the NSRI, the 15-year-old dived off the rocks – shortly before lifeguards went out to rescue him. Lambinon says extensive efforts were not able to save the young boy.
When compared to the same period last year, 17 fatal drowning incidents were recorded in the metro.
Based on this year’s report by the City’s Community Services and Health Department, most of the drowning incidents were recorded in Sonwabe Beach, in Pelikan Park. Three drowning incidents were recorded there on the first of January.
Other areas where incidents were recorded include Muizenberg beach, Fish Hoek beach, Kogel Bay, Wolfgat coastline, Lagoon Beach, Strandfontein Beach and Clifton Fourth Beach.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia Van Der Ross, despite a 29% drop in the number of fatal drowning statistics, it is still despairing to see a single life lost in this manner.
The department, alongside the National Sea Rescue Institute, has reiterated appeals to bathers to only swim in designated areas, where lifeguards are present – especially with continued warm weather conditions, and the upcoming public holidays.
“We are concerned about the number of incidents that have occurred outside of our designated bathing areas, or outside of lifeguard hours. I want to renew our appeal to the public to please only swim in designated areas, and when our lifeguards are on duty. They will be manning the beaches until the conclusion of the Easter weekend, so make sure that you swim only under their watch.” – Patricia Van Der Ross, City of Cape Town Community Services and Health
