Six dead in Zululand drowning tragedies

LAST week Sunday Thandokuhle Myeni (9) drowned during a family outing at Port Durnford after being swept out to sea in strong tides. His body is yet to be recovered.

On Sunday afternoon Empangeni K9 Police Search and Rescue responded to a call about a boy who had drowned at a dam in the Monzi area near Mtubatuba.

Thirteen-year-old Saeseko Mtshangase’s body was recovered soon after the arrival of the unit.

On Monday the bodies of four primary school children were recovered by Empangeni K9 Search and Rescue at the Msweli Dam, Mabhuyeni Reserve.

Twin brothers Ayabonga and Ayathaba Mthembu (10), and Qiniso Mchunu (5) and Asanda Dube (13) drowned.

A boy who had been with the four, raised the alarm after witnessing his friends getting into difficulties while swimming in the dam.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) at least 600 children die in South Africa every year owing to drowning.

ALSO READ: Child drowns in Port Durnford tragedy

Over and above this, 2 000 people drowned in 2016 alone, while 20 000 near-drownings were recorded.

The NSRI have issued the following essential tips regarding beach and swimming safety:

Swim at beaches where and when lifeguards are on duty

Lifeguards are on duty at selected beaches between 10am and 6pm on weekends and during the week during summer school holidays.

Listen to their advice and talk to them about safety on the beach that you are visiting.

They are the experts on that beach. If lifeguards are not on duty, do not swim.

Swim between the lifeguard flags

Teach children that if they swim between the lifeguards flags, the lifeguards will be watching them and can help if there is a problem.

Lifeguards watch swimmers very carefully between the flags. Just wave an arm if you need help.

Don’t drink and drown

Alcohol and swimming do not mix. Never drink alcohol and then go for a swim.

ALSO READ: Richards Bay fishermen washed overboard swim to safety

Don’t swim alone

If you are with a buddy while swimming, there is at least someone who can help or call for help

Adult supervision and barriers to water are vital

Adults who supervise children in or near water must be able to swim.

This is especially vital where lifeguards are not on duty.

It is extremely dangerous to get into the water to rescue someone, so rather throw something that floats to the person in difficulty and call for help (112 from a cell phone and check for the nearest Sea Rescue station telephone number before you visit a beach. Enter that number into your cell phone).

Children should not be able to get through or over barriers such as pool fences.

Know how to survive rip currents.

If you swim between lifeguard flags, they will make sure you are safe and well away from rip currents.

If for some reason this is not possible, do not swim. Educate yourself about rip currents. There is plenty of educational material available on https://www.nsri.org.za/2017/01/beware-of-rip-currents/, including videos of what rip currents look like.

Don’t attempt a rescue yourself.

If you see someone in difficulty call a lifeguard at once or dial the nearest Sea Rescue station from your cell phone (112).

You should have this number on your phone before you go to the beach. Get the emergency numbers for NSRI here https://www.nsri.org.za/emergency-numbers/ or you can Google for the closest NSRI station emergency number.

112 is a good emergency number – for any emergency – to dial from your cell phone.

After calling for help try and throw something that floats to the person in difficulty.

A ball, a foam board and so on.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Empangeni Search and Rescue recover the bodies of four primary school learners

Do not let children use floating objects, toys or tyre tubes at the beach or on dams.

You can very quickly get blown away from the shore and as much fun as tubes and Styrofoam are, it is easy to fall off them.

If a child can’t swim and falls off in deep water, they will drown.

Do not be distracted by your cell phone or social media.

While you are looking after children in or near water, you need to focus on them and nothing else.

Adults who are supervising children should not be distracted by or use their cell phones.

It is not possible to concentrate on children in the water and be on your phone at the same time.

Visit a beach that has lifeguards on duty – there is a reason we are saying this twice!

Please remember that drowning is completely silent.

Someone who is drowning will not shout for help.

They will be vertical in the water (like they are trying to stand or climb stairs) and they will then silently slip under the water.

Listening for children (or adults) in difficulty in the water is not good enough, you must be watching them very carefully.

Make sure that they are not getting in too deep or being carried by currents away from a safe area.

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