Notices
Today at 15:15, the Coastal Water Rescue (CWR) squad was activated to respond to a reported drowning incident at Smelly Creek, near the M4 Lighthouse. Upon arrival, it was confirmed that a group of children had been playing in the water when one of them, a 10-year-old boy, encountered difficulties and was swept out to sea.
CWR squad members conducted a thorough visual search across a wide area while the Beach Office jetski team carried out an extensive water search in an attempt to locate the missing child. Despite their best efforts, the child was not found.
The squad has since stood down, and the scene has been handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS), who will continue the search operation tomorrow morning.
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.
[Beachview, 08 Feb 2025] – At 12:27 PM, the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated following reports of a drowning in progress at Beachview.
Upon arrival, responders received further information that a 39-year-old male had gone over the wall of the tidal pool and was missing. Due to the challenging sea conditions at the time, it was not possible to deploy rescue swimmers into the open water and swimmers were only able to try and get a better view from within the tidal pool.
Squad members conducted extensive visual searches of the surrounding area; however, despite their best efforts, the individual could not be located. The scene was subsequently handed over to the SAPS Dive Unit, and the squad was stood down.
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.
02 February 2025 – The Coastal Water Rescue (CWR) squad was activated at 06:41 on Sunday morning following reports of a drowning incident at BWB main beach. Initial information indicated that the casualty had been removed from the water and that CPR had been underway for approximately 30–35 minutes.
Upon arrival at the scene at 06:57, the first CWR responders immediately joined the BWBLSC with the ongoing resuscitation efforts by assisting with CPR and initiating airway management using a bag-valve mask (BVM). Shortly after, RelayEMS arrived on scene and assumed overall control of the CPR, while the CWR squad continued to provide BVM support.
Despite the combined efforts and prompt intervention by both teams, further checks performed by RelayEMS confirmed that resuscitation was unsuccessful. The casualty was declared deceased at 07:18.
The Coastal Water Rescue squad extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and remains committed to providing rapid and effective emergency response in the community.
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.
At 13:21 today, the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated following a report from the Water Emergency Response Committee regarding a drowning in progress at Smelly Creek. Upon arrival, further information indicated that a 7-year-old child was in trouble and possibly caught in a rip current.
Due to the hazardous conditions, swimmers were not deployed into the water. NSRI Station 6 responded with their jet rib, Rescue 6B, to conduct a search; however, they were unable to locate the child.
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.
Earlier today at 11:32 medically qualified squad members from Coastal Water Rescue who were in the vicinity of Kings Beach were activated to respond, following reports of a near drowning. The casualty was out of the water but reported that CPR was in progress.
On arrival CWR members found the patient in the care of the lifeguards and was responsive. The EMS AMS medical chopper responded, and a safe landing zone was prepared for the chopper to land.
CWR members together with the Relay EMS Paramedic provided further care and the patient was handed over to Metro EMS and AMS helicopter crew and transported to hospital for further evaluation.
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.
Today at 13:24, while responding to an incident at Smelly Creek, a second call was received from Gardmed reporting a drowning in progress at Maitlands Beach. Some squad members were redirected to Maitlands instead of continuing to Smelly Creek.
Before their arrival, an update indicated that a casualty had been pulled from the water and CPR was in progress. However, beachgoers reported that there were three casualties involved, with only one retrieved from the water. Sadly, the CPR efforts were unsuccessful.
The team immediately initiated a water search in the area indicated, with assistance from the Beach Office's jetski, which was also conducting a search. After approximately 30 minutes, the water search was called off, and the squad shifted to a shallower shoreline search of the area and its surroundings. At this time, no eyewitnesses could be located, and no one on the scene could confirm whether additional casualties were unaccounted for.
RelayEMS, SAPS, the SAPS Dive Unit, Metro EMS Rescue, and the Metro EMS Chopper responded to the incident.
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.
On 25 Dec 2024 the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated to respond to the Swartkops river following reports of a possible drowning. The information received was that 3 children went to swim in the river, and one got into difficulty in the water and did not come out.
A water search was done by members from Coastal Water Rescue, BWBSLC and NSRI Station 6. After about one hour in the water, the search was called off and handed over to the SAPS.
The SAPS Dive Unit continued with an underwater search later in the afternoon and recovered the body of the casualty.
