Phalaborwa: Teenager drowns in river
It is understood that the 18-year-old was swimming with his friends at the Letaba River when the incident that later claimed his life, occurred.
A teenager has died after he was pulled unconscious from the Letaba River at Selwane Village on Wednesday afternoon, March 27.
The Lulekani Police have since opened a case of inquest, a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, to determine the cause of the teenager’s death.
It is understood that the 18-year-old was swimming with his friends at the Letaba River when the incident that later claimed his life, occurred.
Information received from the police alleges that the deceased’s friends were surprised when they noticed that he was not resurfacing from the water.
“They tried to search in an attempt to rescue him, but with no success and that is when they immediately informed their parents who contacted the police,” stated Sergeant Reoh Mabunda.
Read: Two boys (9) drowned outside Tzaneen
Sergeant Mabunda mentioned that the police reacted instantaneously and that an intensified search for the teenager, who was still under water, was initiated but was unsuccessful.
“We had to suspend the search, as it was late at night,” stated Mabunda.
“The Search and Rescue Team Unit was summoned and a serious search resumed in the earliest hours of the following morning until the body was found trapped in the deep mud of the river,” stated Sergeant Mabunda. The EMS was summoned and the deceased was certified dead at the scene.
“His body was taken to Maphutha hospital mortuary by the Forensic Pathologist. “A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of his death, while an investigation is still underway,” stated the Sergeant. The Lulekani Police station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie Prince Mkansi, condemned this kind of an incident.
“I would strongly condemn members of the communities which are carrying on swimming in dangerous streams which end up in drowning,” stated the station commander.
He further stated that he was urging parents and all community members to give a clear caution to their children to avoid putting their lives in danger by swimming in streams. “As police, we will be visiting all our communities to conduct awareness briefings in order to stop this kind of incidents,” stated the station commander.
