An SAP Dive Unit recovered the body of the 10 year-old boy from under water about 50 meters off-shore of Melkbaai Beach, Strand last night.
The boy went missing in the surf at about 5.30 pm yesterday (17 January 2013) and is believed to have drowned. The incident occurred when two boys of 13 and 10 years of age from the Strand were paddling unsupervised on a surfboard. The younger one, who was unable to swim, fell off. He disappeared under water almost immediately despite efforts by the 13 year-old to rescue him.
The elder child, who is reportedly the boy’s uncle, paddled to shore to raise the alarm.
The missing boy was located hours later and confirmed deceased by EMS paramedics. His body was handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
Johann Lensink, NSRI Gordons Bay duty coxswain , said Gordons Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew and the SAP were activated at 5.40 pm of a drowning in progress, 400 meters towards Gordons Bay from the Strand Swimming Pool. “Our NSRI Gordon’s Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski and Swedish Rescue Runner INGE, while the WC Government Health EMS, the EMS Skymed helicopter, the SAP, Law Enforcement and Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services responded.”
On arrival on-scene it was determined that a 10 year-old boy was missing in the surf. An extensive sea, shore and air search revealed no sign of the missing boy. An SAP Dive Unit was activated and they conducted a scuba dive search.
An Aunt of the two children was located and summoned to the scene where police trauma counsellors and police investigators assisted with with trauma counselling and locating the family of the boys..
Police opened an inquest docket and have not released the names of either the two children.
(edited)
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