Umdloti drowning sparks outcry over lack of lifesaving equipment
In November the Courier reported that the Umdloti lifeguards’ boat had been broken for months and they did not have a jet ski.
Failure to equip Umdloti’s lifeguards with essential rescue equipment has cost a man his life.
On Sunday, Umdloti lifeguards’ put their own lives at risk in a dangerous rescue attempt in rough seas, equipped with only torpedo buoys, fins and a malibu board.
Despite their best efforts, the lifeguards could not reach the 21-year-old drowning victim in time to save his life.
One of the lifeguards involved, visibly distraught, told the Courier it was a very challenging rescue and they at times feared for their own safety.
In November the Courier reported that the Umdloti lifeguards’ boat had been broken for months and they did not have a jet ski. It highlighted how the lack of rescue equipment might put bather safety at risk, but this latest incident has shifted the spotlight onto lifeguard safety as well.
“It doesn’t really matter if you have 100 lifeguards on the beach. When people are swept out to sea you’ve got to have motorised equipment because every second counts,” said an Umdloti resident and former eThekwini lifeguard and active Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club member, who asked not to be named.
Sunday’s drowning occurred when five bathers who were swimming at an unprotected beach next to the rocks south of the tidal pool got into difficulty. The area is known for strong rip currents and at times a heavy shorebreak. Four managed to get themselves out of trouble.
Lifeguards from the adjacent protected beach were called to assist the fifth man who had become submerged. One of the lifeguards said they saw the man come up once or twice while they raced to get to him, but then he disappeared under water.
“We dived and searched but only managed to locate him after 10 minutes. He was brought to the surface but he was unresponsive.”Lifegu
ards initially used a malibu board but had to abandon it owing to the rough conditions that made the board near impossible to control.
A moderate to strong south-westerly wind pushed the current and waves towards the rocks, taking the malibu board with it.
Consequently, the lifeguards had to rely solely on torpedo buoys and fins to perform the rescue.
The three lifeguards were unable to bring the unresponsive bather straight back to the beach and had to swim him out to sea and around the back of the tidal pool to an opening between the rocks into the tidal pool.
Once ashore, lifeguards initiated CPR until the paramedics arrived, who declared the man deceased after 40 minutes.
Reacting to the news, Umdloti resident David Khoury said: “It’s sad Umdloti doesn’t have a working jet ski. This needs to be looked into. Who’s responsible for paying the lifeguards and maintenance of equipment? They can’t be expected to save lives if they don’t have the correct tools.”
Brett Challenor was just as upset: “To be honest, it’s a disgrace. Westbrook lifeguards are the same. The “rescue” board they have has a huge piece of glass missing and equipment is diabolical. No jet ski, no boat, not even lifeguard uniforms.”
Sympathising with the lifeguards and coming up with a practical solution, Tracy Boyle said: “It can’t be easy to go through something like this. You all did what you could as best as you could! They have mentioned the lack of equipment in the article. Maybe a call to business to donate. Let’s put the word out.”
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