Surfers in Bloubergstrand and Milnerton took advantage of the large waves due to high swells last week.
According to reports, five metre waves were seen, a welcoming sight for watersport professionals.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has indicated that this is not unusual. The SAWS issued a level two warning last week which cautioned Cape Town residents about damaging waves between January 18 – 20.
The warning also noted that damaging waves were expected to hit the coast with potential localised damage to coastal infrastructure and beach activities.
High temperatures were also forecasted, resulting in large crowds flocking to beaches.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) says that high temperatures coupled with rough seas and high sea swells are due to a recent Southern ocean storm, and the tail end of the recent full moon spring tide.
NSRI and all water emergency networks are appealing to the public to be safe in and around coastal and inland waters and at swimming pools.
Lifeguards and emergency services had a busy weekend with two fatal drowning accidents and three non-fatal drowning incidents in the city.
This has again highlighted the urgency of safety in and around coastal and inland water ways and at swimming pools.
One of the non-fatal drowning incidents took place at Melkbosstrand Beach on Sunday 23 January.
Peter O’Hanlon, NSRI Melkbosstrand station commander, says at 15:18 on Sunday, the NSRI Melkbosstrand lifeguard unit responded to reports of a drowning in progress near the Melkbosstrand slipway.
“While a search was underway, which included a rescue craft jetrib and lifeguards in the water, the teenager was located,” O’Hanlon says.
The 16-year-old boy from Atlantis had been swept across the beach to in front of the lifeguard tower and he was recovered from the water lifeless by lifeguards.
“CPR efforts were commenced. Life Healthcare response paramedics, Melkbos Neighbourhood Watch, law enforcement, SA Police Services, Netcare 911 ambulance services, ER24 ambulance services, Cape Town fire and rescue services, WC Government Health EMS, City of Cape Town (CoCT) lifeguards, Avenue Response and ADT responded and assisted.
Paramedics were able to successfully resuscitate the teenager who was transported to hospital in a critical condition,” O’Hanlon says.
According to an onlooker, rescue services were removed the person from the water.
“They gave CPR and managed to save the person. People should really be more careful in the ocean . . . not always good for swimming,” he says.
Sea washes out shipwreck
The high swells also resulted in a large portion of the existing Antipolis shipwreck washing out on the shore just between Oudekraal and the Twelve Apostles Hotel.
The big swell picked up the wreck and moved it around 40 to 50 metres shoreward and onto the shore. The City of Cape Town’s Coastal Management Team was at the site and noted the following:
- It is still a bit unstable and the wreck is moving with the swell.
- Small pieces have broken off and are lying around.
- Although this large portion of the ship will eventually settle, the rocky shore will cause it to always move slightly, depending on the size of the swell and tide.
- The shipwreck may move again in a similar big swell and if it does, there is no immediate infrastructure that it could crash into.
- A local photographer in Milnerton, Colin Brown, made his way to the Milnerton, Blouberg and Small Bay beaches to capture the high swells.
