A 65 year-old UK citizen died at a Jeffreys Bay beach this morning.
The man, who was believed to have been on his first day of holiday visiting family in South Africa, was swimming when he appeared to get into difficulty in the sea. Then he disappeared in the surf, but was later spotted by bystanders floating face down.
The bystanders and a fisherman raced into the water and managed to bring him ashore before initiating Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) .
Reporting on the incident, Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said at 10.13 am NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following SAP reports of a man in difficulty in the surf in front of Kabaljous Caravan Park.
“Our NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched the sea rescue craft while one of the NSRI volunteers responded directly to the scene. Eastern Cape Government Health,EMS, and the SAP responded.”
On arrival on the beach the NSRI found the UK citizen. Bystanders had initiated CPR efforts.
NSRI volunteers took over performing CPR with bystanders assisting. Eastern Cape Government Health EMS paramedics also arrived and continued with CPR, but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, he was declared dead.
It is believed drowning was the cause of death but an autopsy will be carried out to confirm this.
“The body of the man was handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and police opened an inquest docket,” van Rensburg continued. “The family of the deceased man are receiving counselling from police trauma counsellors.
“The British Consulate and South African Authorities are assisting the family. The name of the man has not been released and police are dealing with the matter,” van Rensburg added.
** In other news from JBay NSRI, Station 37, Jeffreys Bay, took delivery of a brand new Discovery Rescue Runner on Tuesday last week. Wienburg made an impromptu visit to St Francis Bay and Jeffreys Bay on 6 March 2012.
All articles written, all photos taken, plus all adverts designed, by the Editor and printed in the St Francis Chronicle are protected by Copyright. Reproduction or copying of any part of the contents of this newspaper and its concept and design can only be done with the Editor’s written permission.
