Man, 66, swept away at lagoon near Hermanus drowns

A 66-year-old man tragically drowned when strong currents swept him away at Grotto East near Hermanus on Saturday, 15 May.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) the man was wading in shallow water with his grandson when the incident occurred.

HERMANUS LAGOON BROKE ITS BANKS AFTER HEAVY RAIN

Andre Barnard, NSRI Hermanus station commander, said the man who is from Cape Town was talking a stroll with his daughter and grandson at the time.

“It appears that the man had been walking at the lagoon with his daughter and his grandson when he and the grandson may have waded in shallow water along the shore of the lagoon before being caught in currents.

“The lagoon had broken its banks last week in heavy rainfall,” said Barnard.

DAUGHTER AND BYSTANDER ASSISTED WITH CPR

Barnard added that the grandfather was assisted back to shore by his daughter and a bystander who assisted with CPR.

“On getting the man to the shore Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were initiated and NSRI Hermanus duty crew, Western Cape Government Health EMS, CMC ambulance services and the South African Police Services (SAPS) were activated,” he said.

An NSRI Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic was also able to reach them, on the other side of the lagoon, however the man sadly died. The nine-year-old child was not injured.

“The body of the man has been taken into the care of WC Government Health Forensic Pathology Services. Condolences are conveyed to the family. NSRI commend the efforts of family and bystanders on the scene,” said Barnard.

Meanwhile, in Simon’s Town the NSRI duty crew were activated when a surf-skier injured himself on Saturday.

Darren Zimmerman, NSRI Simon’s Town station commander, said a local adult male surf-skier was found to have suffered an injury while paddling. In that incident, the injured man was taken onboard the sea rescue craft with his surf-ski and was safely brought to shore.

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