Hennie Niehaus, NSRI Wilderness station commander,
said:
"At 17h49, Saturday, 12th April, NSRI Wilderness volunteer sea rescue
duty crew were activated following reports of an 8 year old local male missing
at the lagoon on Touws River (adjacent to the N2 Freeway),
Wilderness.
"Our NSRI volunteer sea rescue duty crew and the SA Police Services
responded to the scene where as NSRI volunteers arrived a female bystander had
located and was in the process of recovering the body of the child from the
water.
“Our NSRI medics commenced Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR) on the child who was found to be breathless and pulseless from suspected
drowning and the WC Government Health EMS were summoned to the scene and
advanced life support CPR continued in the ambulance en route to hospital where
extensive CPR efforts continued in hospital but sadly after all efforts to
resuscitate the child were exhausted he was declared deceased by
doctors.
"it was established that the 8 year old had disappeared under water
while swimming with friends.
“While the alarm was raised a search had commenced along
the banks of the lagoon. A female bystander located and recovered the body of
the child from the lagoon after she happened to come across the body of the
child floating semi submerged in the water (as Sea Rescue were arriving on the
scene).
“Police have opened an inquest docket."
“Sincerest Condolences are expressed to the family of the
deceased child."
-ENDS-
Released by:
Craig Lambinon
SEA RESCUE
COMMUNICATIONS
