A 28-year-old man has died after being pulled from the water at Bloubergstrand Beach on Wednesday afternoon.
Image: File
A 28-year-old man has died after being pulled from the water at Bloubergstrand Beach on Wednesday afternoon.
Emergency crews were activated shortly after 3.30pm following eyewitness reports of a person drowning along the beachfront in Table View.
According to National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Melkbosstrand station commander Rowan Marais, lifeguards and rescue teams rushed to the scene as the alarm was raised.
"Witnesses reported that a man was in difficulty in the surf and emergency services were immediately mobilised," Marais said.
City of Cape Town lifeguards were the first to arrive and assisted the man’s family members in bringing him out of the water and onto the shoreline.
"Lifeguards helped the family recover the casualty from the surf and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started without delay," Marais said.
Paramedics from several services, including Netcare 911 and ER24, joined the resuscitation attempt. Despite prolonged CPR efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene.
Police have since opened an inquest docket and the body has been handed over to the Western Cape Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
The deceased has been identified as an Ethiopian national residing in Atlantis. He is believed to have been swimming when he may have been caught in powerful rip currents.
"All indications suggest the swimmer may have been caught in a rip current," Marais said. "Our condolences go to the family and friends of the deceased."
lilita.gcwabe@inl.co.za