Monwabisi Beach double drowning feared — man trying to rescue 12-year-old disappears in rip tide

24 Nov 2024

By Sunday afternoon a search was still on for a 34-year-old man who heroically tried to save a 12-year-old girl from drowning in strong rip currents at Monwabisi Beach near Cape Town on Saturday.

Authorities were searching for a 34-year-old man on Sunday after he was caught in a rip current on Saturday while trying to rescue a 12-year-old girl who was drowning at Monwabisi Beach, False Bay.

The National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI’s) Craig Lambinon said the man, who has not yet been identified, was not related to the girl.

Rescue teams found the 12-year-old unresponsive on the beach, while the man was missing in the surf zone. It is believed that he had attempted to rescue the girl after she was caught in rip currents, but got into difficulties before he disappeared in the water.

“The girl was transported to hospital, reportedly by private transport, but she was sadly declared deceased on arrival… Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search, there remains no sign of the missing man,” Lambinon said.

SAPS Water Policing and Diving Services, assisted by an EMS search and rescue unit, are continuing the search for the man, assisted by the NSRI, lifeguards and City of Cape Town law enforcement officials.

According to a statement issued by the NSRI Strandfontein, a duty crew and the City of Cape Town’s water rescue network were called at 6.45pm.

NSRI Strandfontein station commander Nicky Whitehead said NSRI rescue swimmers and a rescue vehicle, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and Western Cape Government health emergency services responded while NSRI Strandfontein launched its rescue craft. The SAPS and city law enforcement were alerted.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie said an inquest docket had been opened.

Kagisho Sefako (29), who regularly visits the beach, told Daily Maverick: “The beach is easily accessible, but unfortunately, many children lose their lives every year. This is often because lifeguards are not always present, even though people visit the beach daily. When lifeguards are present, they usually cover only one side of the beach, leaving the other sides unattended.”

Drowning epidemic

This tragic incident highlights the high number sof drowning in the country, with an estimated 2,000 fatalities annually. In response, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has partnered with Stellenbosch University’s Division of Emergency Medicine to establish an effective alliance focused on saving lives through research, education and community engagement.

The partnership has already yielded significant results. In 2023, the NSRI’s water safety programmes reached more than 900,000 children and taught nearly 18,000 survival swimming lessons. This year, the drowning prevention team reached 505,242 children between January and July 2024. They aim to reach more than a million children in 2024.

The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of agreement, merges academic expertise with hands-on rescue experience. Together, they conduct vital research into drowning patterns, allowing them to develop and test effective prevention strategies. The research is key to understanding who is most at risk and ensuring that emergency responders are equipped with the latest resuscitation techniques tailored specifically to drowning incidents.

To further strengthen their efforts, Stellenbosch University has integrated drowning prevention into its emergency medicine curriculum, preparing future healthcare professionals to handle aquatic emergencies. Beyond the classroom, students gain practical experience working alongside NSRI rescuers, learning first-hand the skills needed to manage real-life drowning situations.

With the university’s support, these efforts are being expanded, making a significant impact on water safety across the country.

“Every life saved from drowning is a testament to the power of education and teamwork, ” said Professor Sa’ad Lahri from Stellenbosch University. DM

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South Africa

Drowning epidemic