At 12h40 (Thursday, 19th December) NSRI
Knysna volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following eye-witness
reports of 4 females (believed to be teenagers) swept out to sea at Leisure
Isle, Knysna.
NSRI Knysna volunteer sea rescue swimmers and
nearby Municipal lifeguards responded directly to the scene and WC Government
Health EMS, SA Police Services, Allsound Security and ER24 ambulance service
responded.
Graeme Harding, NSRI Knysna station commander
said that on arrival on-scene 3 of 4 females (believed to be locals and believed
to be teenagers) were approximately 300 meters off-shore of Leisure Isle, being
swept by rip-currents in the direction of the Knysna Heads.
One female (the fourth female) had managed to
get out of the water safely and unassisted and she was not injured, said
Graeme.
Three Municipal lifeguards and an NSRI rescue
swimmer swam out to the 3 females and found them lying face down in the water.
They were all 3 rescued and brought to shore where Cardio Pulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were immediately initiated.
CPR continued on all 3 females while they
were rushed to Knysna hospitals by ambulances and after extensive continuing CPR
efforts, in the hospitals, were exhausted all 3 females were later declared
deceased by doctors.
Police have opened an inquest docket and are
attempting to locate family of the four females.
According to eye-witnesses it is believed
that the teenagers may have been walking along the bank when they stepped into
shallow water and were then swept off their feet and swept out to sea by the
channels currents and rip currents.
NSRI are urgently appealing to the public to exercise extreme
caution around the coast while the current full moon spring tide brings a higher
than normal high tide and a lower than normal low tide and stronger than normal
rip currents the effects of which will last into next week.
-ENDS-
Released
by:
Craig Lambinon
SEA RESCUE
COMMUNICATIONS
