By Andrew Ingram
It was a beautiful, hot and windless day in December. Just the kind of day to hang out at the swimming pool, which is just what the Jungs were doing at their Camp's Bay home.
Three-year-old Maxine was on a lilo when she tipped over and was instantly under the water with the lilo on top of her. Watched by her mother, she calmly swam out of trouble.
Maxine had been taught to swim, unlike thousands of other children for whom the combination of a momentary lapse in the caregiver's concentration and the inability to swim has proved fatal.
"Despite Maxine being able to swim, we watch her carefully and it's so nice to know that she can help herself and enjoy swimming with us," said her mother, Anita Jung.
Now Maxine's brother Marcus, who is a year old, is also well on the way to learning to swim.
Recent Medical Research Council figures on child mortality are shocking.
Among children up to 14, the second most common cause of death is drowning. In 1999, 233 children drowned. And these figures exclude near drowning and possible brain damage resulting from it.
According to the MRC, boys are more likely to drown than girls and a substantial number of drownings are at private homes.
Laura Sevenus specialises in teaching toddlers to swim.
"I teach them from four months old - the younger the better - to acclimatise to water."
From about a year old they are physically developed enough to be taught to swim.
She does not use the controversial "drown proofing" method unless specifically asked to by parents.
"They take to it naturally and apart from perhaps saving their lives, it's a good way to help their muscular and social development. Parents need to motivate their children.
"Swimming isn't like ballet or soccer. It's a lifesaving skill," said Sevenus.
She should know. For 36 years she has been teaching people of all ages to swim and has herself swum for Western Province.
Part of education at school
Metro rescue doctor Cleeve Robertson, an expert in marine underwater medicine, agrees.
"Children should be able to walk, run and swim. Swimming should be part of their education at school.
"Swimming is a life skill and no child should graduate without it.
"Although fences and pool covers are a help there is no substitute for adult supervision."
Harsh reminder
Swimming classes are in full swing in the indoor pool at Sevenus's home in Camps Bay. Her assistant helps some bigger children with fitness and their swimming style, while Sevenus works with a mother and her one-year-old baby in the shallow end.
In the corner of the pool, discarded by a child and floating face down, is a doll - a harsh reminder to parents of tragedy that can be averted.