A 28-YEAR-old man drowned on Saturday, 17 October at about 1.30pm at the Shongweni Dam when the canoe he was in capsized.
Russel Meiring from ER24 said that paramedics arrived at the dam and were directed to the stricken family who informed them that the man had gone canoeing and the vessel overturned.
The family stated that he had gone underwater and had not emerged.
According to Jeff Cawood, chairman of Umzinyathi Canoe Club, the man had illegally borrowed a canoe and gone out on the dam, where he capsized and drowned.
This was confirmed by acting manager of Msinsi, Gerry Bruton, who said that the man had taken the canoe without permission and had not had any safety equipment such as a life jacket at the time of the incident. He said they were still in the process of investigating the incident further.
After a two-hour search, Durban Search and Rescue recovered the body. “Unfortunately there was nothing more that could be done for the patient and he was declared dead at the scene,” said Meiring.
KwaNdengezi police are investigating an inquest and circumstances around the incident.
