- Cape Town recorded a slight decrease in fatal drownings this festive season, but child drownings remain a concern.
- Lifeguards responded to over 30 non-fatal incidents, emphasizing the importance of water safety measures.
- The City’s Identikidz project reunited 256 children with their families, helping prevent further tragedies.
There has been a slight decrease in fatal drownings over the peak festive season compared to the same period last year, offering a small glimmer of hope. However, the number of child drownings remains a troubling concern.
Since the start of the season in September 2024, nine fatal drownings have been recorded, with four of these occurring in December – slightly lower than the five fatalities reported in December last year. While the decline is encouraging, experts emphasise the urgent need for enhanced water safety measures, particularly to protect vulnerable children.
The majority of those who drowned were male, and the youngest patient was just nine years old. These statistics are only subject to Cape Town.
On a national scale, Lifesaving SA told the newspaper in the latter half of November 2024, there was a spate of 21 drownings reported which they had not seen in previous years.
The number of fatal drownings coincided with the emergence of hot weather, as well as the close of examinations, schools and universities. During December 2024 to the first week of January 2025 the number of drownings doubled to 42 which consisted of 34 cases of fatal drownings and eight non-fatal.
The City told TygerBurger they are alarmed by the number of young children who have drowned this season. Last season, no fatalities younger than 16 were recorded. An analysis of incidents this season shows that all but one happened either outside of designated bathing areas or outside of lifeguard duty hours.
“Our lifeguards have also responded to more than 30 non-fatal drownings, all of which were serious and where patients required anything from oxygen to hospitalisation. Without the intervention of lifeguards, these too could have been fatal.
“I want to commend the staff for their amazing efforts to keep beachgoers safe, despite ongoing challenges like alcohol abuse, patrons not adhering to instructions, and other anti-social behaviour,” says Mayco member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross.
No fatal drowning incidents were recorded at the City’s public swimming pools.
Operational arrangements
While the peak festive season is now over, operational arrangements on the beaches will continue for the remainder of January, after which certain beaches will see a reduced drowning prevention service.
- Always swim on a beach with lifeguards on duty, and between their red and yellow flags.
- Do not leave children unsupervised in or around water.
- Do not swim under the influence of alcohol.
- Beware of rip currents. If you’re caught in a current, try to stay calm and signal for help.
The City’s Identikidz project, meanwhile, continues to grow in popularity.
A comparison with the previous festive season shows that the number of children tagged increased by nearly 4 000, from 85 916 to 89 689.
This season, City staff have reunited 256 children with their families – 11 children were handed over to the Provincial Department of Social Development on New Year’s Day, as their caregivers were not contactable.
The Identikidz project was concluded on 12 January.
Be cautious
Although the Milnerton Beach had no fatal drownings, one beachgoer lost his life at Table View Beach on New Year’s Day.
Hein Köhne, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, says on arrival on the scene rescuers on the shoreline reported a father and daughter, using an NSRI pink rescue buoy had reached a man in the water, in the surf zone.
The man had been caught in rip currents while swimming, and the good samaritans, father and daughter, were keeping the man afloat with the aid of the pink rescue buoy. The father has been trained in lifesaving and the daughter is a former BBSL lifeguard. They are both locals from Table View.
“The lifeguards rescue boat reached them in the surf zone and took the man onboard their rescue craft and he was brought to the shore – he was unresponsive. Once ashore paramedics commenced CPR efforts on the 46-year-old man, from Philippi. The lifeguards relaunched their rescue craft and brought the father and daughter ashore. They were not injured. They are commended for their efforts,” Köhne says.
Despite extensive CPR efforts by paramedics, the man was declared deceased.
“The body of the man has been taken into the care of police and government health forensic pathology services. Police have opened an inquest docket. Condolences are conveyed to the family and friends of the deceased man,” Köhne says.
Milnerton Surf Lifesaving Club says 20 voluntary and professional lifeguards reported for duty and patrolled Milnerton and Lagoon Beach on New Year’s Day.
“It was a slow start to the traditionally busy beach day in Milnerton.The beach only started filling up by midday with approximately 3 000 visitors recorded over the course of the day and about 200 swimmers in the water at any given time.
“Lifeguards had their hands full due to the strong side currents brought on by the peak spring tide and performed several help-outs during the course of the day. Three people needed first aid treatment. Thanks to the vigilance of our lifeguards, no rescues were required,” the club says.
Lifeguards are our heroes
Regarding the cases of drownings in the ocean, reports showed that most were at non-designated duty areas or non-lifeguarded beaches while three of the cases in Cape Town were after duty hours.
“Lifesaving SA commends all lifeguards, both professional and volunteer for their services given to the communities around the country during this past festive season; it is to be noted that with the records of the large crowds, seen using beaches, pools and waterparks, it must be acknowledged that the lifeguards were kept extremely busy in performing help-outs and rescues. It is no mean feat indeed considering that the country’s popular beaches attracted several thousand bathers and picnickers on each day of the summer holidays,” a statement reads.
