Local news
Near drowning at St Mike’s averted by quick-thinking bystander, lifeguards
It's crucial that all beachgoers remain vigilant and aware of the risks associated with swimming in the ocean.
Three children from Oribi were left traumatised after a multiple, near-drowning incident at St Michaels Beach yesterday. According to eyewitnesses, the group of 13 children was enjoying the beautiful weather and several of them were swimming in the tidal pool.
Lana van Zyl, of Med-Evac, said three of them got into difficulty and began to panic, pulling each other under. She explained that, fortunately, a quick-thinking bystander jumped into the water to assist – and was soon joined by the lifeguards, who arrived from the beach where they were stationed.
Emergency medical response team, MedEvac, was also called to the scene and worked tirelessly to stabilise the children before they were transported to hospital by EMRS. While it’s unclear at this time what caused the incident, it serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety, especially when swimming in natural bodies of water. “It’s crucial that all beachgoers remain vigilant and aware of the risks associated with swimming in the ocean,” added van Zyl.
