Inquest dockets have been registered to probe the deaths of a teenager and a woman who drowned in separate incidents over the weekend.

A 13-year-old boy was found underwater after a drowning incident was reported in the afternoon of Friday, 26 September, in Laaiplek, near Velddrif.  

The National Sea Rescue Institute‘s Craig Lambinon confirmed that emergency services were alerted to a drowning in progress near the Berg River Mouth at Rooibaai. 

“2 local male divers, Good Samaritans, had entered the water to dive search while surface water and shoreline search efforts were conducted. The teenager was located underwater, under a jetty, and he was recovered to the shore by the Good Samaritan divers,” said Lambinon. 

Following a medical assessment, the teenager was declared dead on the scene. 

“The body of the teenager has been taken into the care of Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” confirmed Lambinon.  

Then two days later, on Sunday, another drowning was reported, but along the Garden Route. A woman was recovered from Victoria Bay in George, after witnesses saw her experiencing difficulty “in shallow surf near the shoreline”. 

Lambinon said the 35-year-old woman had been swimming with a man when she appeared to struggle. She was then seen floating face down in the water.   

Bystanders alerted lifeguards, who, together with two surfers, pulled her from the water and began CPR. 

“After all extensive efforts to resuscitate the lady were exhausted on the scene sadly the lady was declared deceased by paramedics,” said Lambinon. 

Both victims’ bodies were taken into the care of police and forensic pathology services, as inquest dockets were opened for further investigation.  

Lambinon said the cause of the 35-year-old woman’s death is yet to be established.  

These incidents come amid ongoing efforts to locate a teenager who disappeared at sea in Bakoven.

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