Notices
On Wednesday 08 Jan 2020 the CWR squad was activated at 18H36 following reports of a drowning in progress at Wells Estate. Initial reports were that there were two casualties with one out of the water undergoing CPR and the second one missing.
Further information received was that 3 people were swimming but had got into trouble in the surf. A 4th person on shore noticed this and went into the water to assist them, but he also got into trouble. Of the group of 4 people, only one made it safely to shore, and there were two casualties still missing.
Our first members on the scene proceeded to assist the lifeguards with the CPR in progress, but unfortunately, the extensive CPR effort was not successful.
Visually the conditions looked good, but there were very strong rip currents at this location. The rest of the squad on scene joined swimmers from BWBLSC and started a water search by forming a chain to perform a methodical search of the surf area. The Beach Office and NSRI launched their IRB's to assist with searching beyond the breakers.
After searching for approximately an hour the search was called off due to fading light.
Services on Scene:
CWR, BWBLSC, SAPS Dive Unit, SAPS S&R, Beach Office, NSRI, EMS
Yesterday, 25 Dec 2019 the CWR squad was activated at 17:16 following reports of a drowning in progress in the Swartkops River mouth. According to eyewitness reports two adult males were in the water in the river next to the BWBLSC clubhouse when they got into trouble, the eyewitness saw them disappear and raised the alarm.
At the time members of the BWBLSC were busy in the clubhouse and immediately responded, and notified the rest of the emergency services via the WERC (Water Emergency Rescue Committee) group.
Jetskis from BWBLSC and Beach Office were deployed to assist with the search.
On arrival, the CWR squad members joined the search, but after an extensive search of 1 hour the search was called off due to the fading light.
Services on scene: CWR, BWBLSC, SAPS Divers, Beach Office
On Wednesday 27 November at 15h22 a notice was received from the Water Emergency Rescue Committee of a drowning that occurred in the Motherwell area.
The squad was not activated due to the time of the call (the call to the emergency services was only made approximately an hour after the incident). Two squad members attended the scene to offer assistance to the other emergency services.
A group of young children were swimming in an irrigation pond next to the Addo road using polystyrene for flotation, when one of the children fell off, and disappeared under water.
The SAPS divers, after a long underwater search, recovered the body of the young casualty.
Services on scene: SAPS Divers, Fire Department, EMS, SAPS Sector Vehicle, BWBLSC
On Wednesday 27 November, while on scene in Motherwell, another report was received of a drowning that had occurred near Kwanobuhle. From info received, it appeared that a group of children had walked approximately 1.5km's up the dry riverbed from Kwanobuhle to the waterhole to swim. One of the children got into trouble and disappeared under water.
Our members proceeded to the location, in Rocklands, to observe the terrain and conditions in order to plan for a recovery. Access was granted onto private land by the land owner, who accompanied the SAPS Divers and our 4x4 vehicles to the nearest vehicle accessible point at the swimming hole, from where it was a 100m walk down a very steep slope to access the water hole at the bottom.
Specialist rigging equipment was required and a recovery could not be attempted at the time. The SAPS Divers planned to do the recovery on Thursday 28 November.
Services on scene: SAPS Divers, Coastal Water Rescue (Prior SAPS Kwanobuhle, EMS Rescue)
On Thursday 7 November the CWR squad was activated following a report of a possible drowning in progress at Kings Beach, near the harbour wall. The lifeguards from Beach Office were also responding. On route CWR were notified that the casualty was out of the water, and was being transported to the medical room at Kings Beach for medical attention. A stand down was issued to the squad.
Services on Scene: Beach Office, Coastal Water Rescue, SAPS Dive Unit, EMS
On Thursday 7 November the CWR squad was activated following report of a drowning in progress in Seaview. En route to the location was further information received that the casualty was removed from the water by bystanders, but was deceased. A stand down was isued to the squad.
Services on Scene: EMS, Coastal Water Rescue, SAPS Sector Vehicle, Beach Office
The CWR squad was activated on Wednesday 06 Nov 2019 at 13:57 after reports from the Water Emergency Rescue Committee of a drowning in progress in a dam in Motherwell. On arrival it was found that two young children went swimming in a dam area formed by a storm water overflow. Both children got into trouble.
On arrival, the community members had already recovered the body of the one casualty, but one was still missing. Due to the condition of the water and surrounds it was not possible to deploy swimmers into the dam. A CWR member assisted the SAPS Dive Unit with the search. Waders were also used to search. The body of the second casualty was recovered from the deeper water, and the scene was handed over to the SAPS for further investigation.
Services on Scene: SAPS Sector Vehicle, SAPS Divers, Fire & Emergency, Coastal Water Rescue
Today at 11:52 the CWR squad was activated via the Water Emergency Rescue Committee to a vehicle had left the road on the N2 bridge and fell into the Swartkops River. The vehicle which had five occupants landed upside down in the river below the bridge. Two occupants were rescued by witnesses of the accident, rescue personnel and lifesavers, and taken to hospital by private and state EMS. The other 3 were recovered from the vehicle and declared deceased at the scene.
