Statistics of fatal and non-fatal drownings recorded for this past festive season, reflect an unfortunate increase in incidents recorded at Strand Beach in comparison to the same time in the previous year.

In light of the most recent fatal drowning incident at Strand Beach last week, Bolander requested an update from the City on incidents recorded.

In response the City’s Mayoral committee member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, said: “The City has observed an increase in the number of fatal and non-fatal drownings at Strand Beach compared to last year. Strand Beach recorded three fatal drownings and four non-fatal incidents this season.”

This increase comes after the City recorded zero fatal drownings and two non-fatal drownings at the Strand beach in the previous 2023/24 season.

The most recent reported fatal drowning at Strand Beach was that of a 17-year-old teenager from Khayelitsha on Wednesday January 8, and says Ms Van Der Ross, this incident has been the second fatal drowning incident of a minor at this beach during this swimming season.

According to information by the NSRI Gordon’s Bay, released after the incident, the teenager was reported missing at the beach in Strand in the area between the Topaz apartments and the Strand Pump station, on Wednesday after 2.30pm.

After an extensive search by City of Cape Town lifeguards and NSRI rescue swimmers, reports were received of the teen’s lifeless body spotted in shallow water at the beachfront. Medical teams were not successful in reviving the teen and he was declared deceased on the scene.

Another incident whereby a minor lost her life, says Ms Van der Ross, was when a nine-year-old drowned in the peak of the busy beach season, on Saturday December 28.

In answer to what could be established as the most common cause of drowning incidents at Strand beach, Ms Van der Ross singles out the occurrence of rip currents at this beach as one of the most common culprits threatening the safety of swimmers.

“There are some rips that are constant, and others known as “flash rips” which unexpectedly appear in areas the public may have considered “safe” at other times of the day.

“Tidal influence plays a big role in how and when rip currents pull. Swimming within the designated bathing area between the lifeguards’ red and yellow flags is the safest place to swim at the beach,” she said.

Bolander asked Sea Safe, an NPO based in Strand, who present Sea and Beach Safety programmes, for some beach safety tips, particularly on dealing with rip currents.

Founder of the non-profit, Martin Bester, said: “Strand Beach has many different ‘faces’ that change as the tides come in and out. Rip currents change with the tides.”

He undertook to in a follow-up article provide more detail on the ‘rips’ at Strand and therein highlight the different hot spots.

In the meantime, he advised swimmers caught in a rip to stay calm, to try to not exhaust yourself by swimming against the current, but to if possible, attempt to swim parallel to the shore, to shout for help and wave your hands and to rather tread in water and float on your back.

Bystanders witnessing someone caught in a current are advised against attempting to rescue the person if not in equipped with swimming or sea skills, but to rather call for help by calling a lifeguard or by calling the 112-emergency number.

Overall, Ms Van der Ross said that across City beaches, there have been 10 fatal drownings recorded since the start of the season in September last year and lifeguards, she says had responded to more than 30 incidents of near-fatal drownings, “all of which required critical interventions, ranging from oxygen support to hospitalisation. Without these interventions, many of these incidents could have been fatal,” she said.

Swimmers and beach-goers are encouraged to adhere to the instructions to only swim in the designated areas where lifeguards are on duty. Ms Van der Ross said the issue of swimmers not complying with this request, raises concern.

“An analysis of drowning incidents this season as well as last season shows that the majority of fatal and non-fatal drownings at City beaches happened either outside of designated bathing areas or outside of lifeguard duty hours,” she said.

The public can call the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone and 107 from a landline in emergencies.

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