The body of a 13-year-old boy, who went missing underwater in the Berg River in the Rooibaai area of Velddrif in the Western Cape, was recovered on Friday by two Good Samaritans.

Detailing the incident, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said on September 26, at approximately 3.25pm, the NSRI St Helena Bay duty crew was activated following reports from the provincial Government Health EMS West Coast Metro Control of a drowning in progress on the Berg River.

Lambinon reported that NSRI rescue swimmers responded, and the NSRI duty crew launched the Spirit of Santam II rescue craft from the NSRI St Helena Bay station 44 rescue base.

The South African Police Service (SAPS), the Western Cape Government Health EMS rescue squad and ambulance, and West Coast Medical Rescue all responded, he said.

According to Lambinon, upon arrival on the scene, it was discovered that a local 13-year-old boy was missing underwater.

He added that two local male divers, acting as Good Samaritans, had conducted an underwater search, while others searched the surface water and shoreline.

“The teenager was located underwater, under a jetty, and he was recovered to the shore by the Good Samaritan divers,” said Lambinon.

He said paramedics medically assessed the teenager, who was declared deceased, and an inquest docket was opened by police.

“The body of the teenager has been taken into the care of the police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” added Lambinon.

In a separate incident earlier this month, NSRI Gauteng station commander, Nicholas Wood, reported that a six-year-old boy drowned in Nigel Dam.

At approximately 7.22pm, the NSRI rescue vehicle, accompanied by the NSRI ARC (rescue canoe) and rescue swimmers, was dispatched.

This followed reports of a drowning in progress in a small dam on a smallholding.

The South African Police Service, Police Search and Rescue (WPDS – Water Policing and Diving Services), and GEMS (Gauteng Emergency Medical Services) also responded.

“On arrival at the scene, it was confirmed that a local six-year-old male child had gone missing under water while swimming in the dam,” said Wood.

Wood said while the NSRI ARC was deployed as a safety platform, carrying NSRI rescue swimmers, a police diver conducted an underwater search, supervised by another police diver on the surface.

“During a dive search, the body of the child was located and recovered by police divers and taken into the care of the police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” he said, adding that an inquest docket was opened by the police.

karen.singh@inl.co.za

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