Tragedy strikes South African beaches on New Year’s Day as four drown
SPRING TIDE WARNING
Pennington Beach, where five people were swept out to sea on New Year's Day. Authorities have warned holidaymakers of the dangers of spring tides, which peak on January 5.
Image: File
New Year’s Day 2025 has brought heartache to South Africa’s coastal communities as four individuals have lost their lives in drowning incidents, while authorities continue search operations for three others still missing in KwaZulu-Natal.
The day began with grim reports from Cape Town, where Lifesaving South Africa (LSA) highlighted two critical events. Dhaya Sewduth, a management board member for LSA, detailed the first incident, which occurred at Strand Beach, resulting in the drowning of an adult male. Lifesavers retrieved the body from the ocean after a watchful bystander raised the alarm. Efforts to resuscitate the man proved futile, with medical professionals declaring him deceased on the scene. Witnesses indicated that he had been swimming outside the designated bathing zone, which is particularly concerning given the risks associated with unmonitored areas.
In a contrasting outcome at Strandfontein, the swift action of lifesavers had a life-saving impact. After being alerted about a male floating face down in a tidal pool around 4pm, they administered CPR and revived him, leading to his transport to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
The tragedies did not end with Cape Town. In KwaZulu-Natal, the LSA reported the drowning of a 14-year-old boy at a non-bathing beach within the Isimangaliso Wetland region, although details surrounding the incident remain sparse at this time. More harrowing developments unfolded at Pennington Beach, where a mass casualty incident took place. A distress call was made at around 6:20pm, with five individuals trapped in rip currents. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) described the situation as a scene of chaos as off-duty lifesavers and emergency services rallied to rescue those in distress.
Lifeguards on duty at Strand beach in Cape Town. A camera has been positioned at the beach for duty controllers to monitor the water as a back-up to the lifeguards keeping watch from their tower and the lifeguards patrolling the beach.
Image: HENK KRUGER
Craig Lambinon, an NSRI spokesperson, reported that two bodies had been recovered, while one individual was saved and confirmed to be in a stable condition. The search continues for two other men, aged 21, with authorities actively involved in recovery efforts.
Additional incidents involved fruitless searches, with Mike Bishop, NSRI Ballito station commander, leading operations at Thompsons Beach in Ballito. A 40-year-old man reportedly went missing in the surf after being caught in a rip current while swimming with his 13-year-old nephew, who was fortunately rescued by a stranger. Despite extensive search efforts, there have been no signs of the man, sparking a message of caution from the NSRI.
As the search operations proceed, Lambinon has urged beachgoers to exercise heightened caution as the tides are affected by the upcoming full moon spring tide, peaking on January 5. This natural phenomenon sees the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth creating amplified gravitational effects on ocean tides, which can significantly enhance the dangers present in coastal waters.
Authorities continue to stress the importance of safety in and around the water, especially during such high-risk periods.
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