Family outing turns tragic as boy drowns in Kwena Dam
A 10-year-old boy from Badfontein drowned while playing in the Kwena Dam near Lydenburg as his family fished nearby.
The body of a 10-year-old boy who drowned in the Kwena Dam outside Lydenburg was retrieved later the same day. According to Mpumalanga News, the tragic incident happened just after 14:00 yesterday.
Captain Pottie Potgieter of the Ehlanzeni Diving Unit says police divers were called to the scene to retrieve the child’s body.
According to the boy’s uncle, the child and his nine-year-old sister were playing in the water while the family was fishing. He says the girl cried out for help and he saw both children struggling in the water.
“The uncle managed to save the girl, but when he returned for the boy, he was already submerged,” Potgieter explains.
Dangerous dam floor drop-offs
The Kwena Dam is notorious for sudden, steep drop-offs, even in areas that appear shallow.
Potgieter says this is exactly what happened to the children.
“The dam floor suddenly dropped as they were walking in what they presumed was shallow water,” he explains. “The body was found beyond the halfway mark of the dam.”
Potgieter adds that despite the murkiness of the water, the retrieval of the boy’s body was not difficult. He was found by following the indications of where he was last seen.
Inquest opened
Sergeant Cave Dilebo, the spokesperson for Lydenburg SAPS, confirms the incident and says that an inquest into the death of the child has been opened.
Members involved in the retrieval of the body included the Lydenburg and White River K9 units, iSecure EMS, E2 Bacsa, the Ehlanzeni diving team and Lydenburg SAPS.
The name of the child has not been released.
Dilebo confirms that the family of the victim are Badfontein residents.
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