Notices

At 16h20 today CWR was alerted to a mass drowning in progress at the Beach View resort.
3 people were caught in rip currents, Rescue swimmers and a paramedics were dispatched. Upon arrival Municipal lifeguards had managed to pull the patients out.  

A 20 year old female was stabilised and a 20 year old male was ok. ALS (advance life support) was being done on the third patient, a male in his mid 20's. Despite efforts by paramedics, he unfortunately did not make it.  The EMS helicopter airlifted the young female to hospital. The beach was earlier given red flag status and was closed for all swimming. There have been warnings of severe rip currents along our coast.

A few members reported for duty to assist KB life guards on the beach to keep bathers safe.
There were lots of treatment for blue bottle stings and helped out with lost children.

At 21h20 the squad was activated to a drowning in progress off the Shark Rock pier by Hobie Beach.
A report of 2 young males that had jumped off the pier and got into difficulty.
On arrival one person was pulled to safety and it was reported that his friend a 25 year old male was still missing.

An immediate search was executed with CWR Swimmers deployed in the water at the base of the pier about 150m out in the Surf.
support was given from above on the pier by CWR support crew ,BEACH OFFICE , FIRE & RESCUE , EMS , NSRI and SAPS.
NSRI also provided assistance from the water with a vessel.

After a hour of searching the person was still not found and was called off due to poor visibility.
It would resume at first light in the morning.

Update 02Jan2015

At first light CWR resumed the search for the missing person from the previous nights drowning. The victim was found by CWR swimmers 650m on Humewood beach ,unfortunately deceased. SAPS were notified and scene was handed over. Great commitment by all services .Our condolences to the victims family and friends.

At 15h53 Coastal Water Rescue was activated to a near drowning in progress at the Van Stadens Resort. Initial reports indicated that a group of holiday makers were swimming across the lagoon when a middle aged male from East London got into difficulty and disappeared under the water. Local lifeguards initiated a search and managed to rescue the patient shortly afterwards. However he was unresponsive and the lifeguards immediately started CPR. A local cardiologist who was at the resort also assisted. On arrival, EMS medical staff and a Relay ALS paramedic managed to cross the lagoon to provide assistance. In the background SAPS, CWR and beach office provided coordination. Unfortunately despite prolonged attempts to resuscitate the patient, he was pronounced deceased on scene.

At 17h17 today the Coastal Water Rescue squad was activated with reports of a missing child in the Veeplaas area. On arrival initial reports received were that 5 children were playing in the water underneath the bridge, and that one was missing. Before any search attempt had been started the missing child came forward from the crowd, he had been at home, and the search was called off. CWR road crew and four rescue swimmers were on the scene with Metro EMS, the SAPS dive unit and also SAPS sector vehicles.

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 4:45pm, Coastal Water Rescue was activated with a drowning in progress at the Swartkops River Mouth. On arrival it was established that two friends were swimming near the river mouth when they got caught in a current, one of them managed to make it to safety by getting onto one of the pylons in the middle of the river where he was rescued by the Bluewater Bay LSC, unfortunately the other 18 year old victim was missing and presumed drowned. 6 CWR swimmers were deployed to assist the other emergency services (Beach Office, Fire Department, SAPS, EMS, BWB LSC, BWB Sector Policing). An extensive search was performed, but was not successful. The SAPS Search & Rescue unit will continue the search today.

At 12h48 today the squad was alerted to a drowning in progress at Corobrick by The pump house. Coastal Water Rescue swimmers and land crew responded. On arrival police divers were entering the water as the body submerged. We had rescue swimmers assist with a immediate search. An EMS chopper was also called in due to the currents and the vast area to cover. After a extensive search by all services, the body had unfortunately not yet been found.

At approximately 16h07 yesterday, the squad was alerted to a drowning in progress in the Greenbushes area at a small dam. Coastal Water Rescue’s swimmers and support crew were dispatched. A 7 year old girl had been swimming with friends and had unfortunately drowned. An immediate search with police divers was implemented and the body of the young girl was retrieved. Our condolences to the girl’s family and friends.