Notice

15Feb2025 - Drowning Swartkops

The Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated at 02:25am Saturday morning, 15 February 2025, following reports of a drowning in progress in the Swartkops area. The exact location of the incident was initially unknown.

Upon arrival, the first responding squad members met with a SAPS vehicle on the bridge over the canals. Shortly thereafter, further information was received, directing the team to the open canals near the old Swartkops Power Station.

At the scene, squad members joined SAPS divers, EMS Rescue personnel, and an eyewitness. According to information provided, the casualty was last seen in the water near the Swartkops River, within a canal system that runs mostly underground beneath roads and railway lines.

To access the canal, a ladder provided by EMS Rescue was used to safely descend into the canal system. The Coastal Water Rescue squad then deployed the Ark Rescue Croc from the power station side to assist with the search efforts. After an extensive search, the team located the casualty, who was sadly found deceased some distance from the initial sighting. Squad members assisted SAPS divers with the recovery of the body.

Coastal Water Rescue is staffed by volunteers and funded by donations. Can you help us? Please visit https://www.cwrescue.co.za/support-us for more info.