NSRI Durban’s volunteer duty crew were activated at 12h28 on Sunday 11 September 2011 following reports of a drowning in progress in the surf at The Cutting, near Durban.
The NSRI Durban’s volunteer duty crew prepared to launch a sea rescue craft and their sea rescue 4×4 vehicle was dispatched. Netcare 911 ambulance service and eThekwini Fire and Rescue Service were dispatched.
On arrival on-scene NSRI Durban volunteers found Netcare 911 paramedics and eThekwini Fire and Rescue Services medics performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts on a 35 year old male, from Meerbank, and after all extensive efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted on-scene he was declared dead by paramedics.
According to reports the deceased man was part of 300 church worshippers on the beach involved in a prayer and baptizing meeting. It appears that the man was swept away by rip-currents and was rescued by lifeguards and by members of the public and once on the beach CPR was immediately initiated.
The NSRI and Emergency Services reiterate the dangers posed to events, school outings, bathers, paddlers and boaters surrounding the Spring tide and the strong rip currents associated with the Spring tide.
