2 boys die after being trapped under sand in Western Cape
Police have opened an inquest into the death of two teenagers who were trapped under sand on the West Coast.
The family of two teenage boys who died after being buried under sand in Hopefield near Vredenburg yesterday is devastated.
Alceno Linnerd (13) and a relative, Gerano Linnerd (14), were reportedly playing when the sand gave way, trapping and burying them.
A third boy who was with them ran to alert nearby residents, who contacted the police and emergency services.
Recovery
Alceno’s mother, Nayma, says her sister informed her that her son was trapped.
“I immediately rushed to the area. I was hoping that Alceno was okay but when I arrived at the scene, his body had already been removed. He was already dead. I remember looking at him lying on the ground. It did not feel like he was gone; it felt more like he was sleeping,” explains Nayma.
Heartbreaking
She says she watched rescue workers remove Gerano’s body.
“Gerano is my niece’s son. It was the most heartbreaking thing to watch. Right now, we don’t know how they got trapped under the sand. We are all so devastated,” she adds.
Nayma described Alceno and Gerano as respectful and kind.
“They loved spending time together. We are planning their funerals for next week,” she says.
Elowayne Gouws, the director of West Coast Medical Rescue, says when they arrived at the scene, the boys had already been removed from the sand at the open field where police say they had been playing.
Hopefield is in the heart of the Sandveld, a region in the Western Cape characterised by its distinct sandy plains.
“They were assessed by paramedics and were found to have succumbed to their injuries. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased children,” he says.
Investigations
Sergeant Wesley Twigg, the spokesperson for the Western Cape police, says the Hopefield police have opened an inquest and are investigating the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile app MySAPS anonymously.
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