Update

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Two drowning incidents have claimed a total of three young lives this week.

Two boys drowned in Nature's Valley during the weekend, while one drowned at Noetzie Beach on Monday 2 October. His body is yet to be found.

The two incidents come less than a month after Kanonkop local, 21-year-old Steven Andrews, drowned in the Ashmead Channel in the Knysna Estuary when his canoe capsized and he was unable to swim to safety.

This brings the total lives lost to drowning in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay to four in the past month alone.

Nature's Valley

The first of the two recent incidents occurred in Nature's Valley, reports KPH correspondent Chris van Gass. Two youngsters aged eight and 10 drowned in the Grootrivier Lagoon in Nature's Valley on Saturday 30 September after a kayak with three children aboard capsized.

Bitou Ward 1 councillor Jessica Kamkam conveyed her condolences to the parents of the deceased boys. "Out of respect for the children's parents, can we please allow them to mourn in this time," said Kamkam. 

"I would prefer not to comment on this incident except to say it is sad indeed. Yes, Nature's Valley is a dangerous beach."

The tragedy unfolded while a third child reached the shore and raised the alarm, said Craig Lambinon, NSRI spokesperson. NSRI Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley Coastwatchers were activated at about 14:44 after receiving the report of the drowning in progress. Some NSRI rescue swimmers responded in the NSRI's rescue vehicle while other NSRI rescue swimmers who were near to the scene responded in their private vehicles. Two NSRI rescue craft were launched.

Using the spring high tide, both rescue craft were able to navigate the lagoon mouth to enter into the Nature's Valley Lagoon. An NSRI Plettenberg Bay ATV (all-terrain vehicle), stationed at Nature's Valley, was also dispatched. 

Police as well as the police dive unit, WC Government Health EMS and Plettenberg Bay First Responders responded.

It was reported that three local boys, believed to be aged 8 and 10, were on a kayak on the lagoon when they encountered trouble. Upon arrival at the scene a child was located and recovered from the water.

CPR efforts were applied but efforts to resuscitate the child were unsuccessful and, sadly, he was declared deceased. During a search the second child was located and recovered from the water, but sadly this child was also declared deceased. 

"A counsellor assisted the surviving child who was then taken into the care of his parents. The bodies of the two deceased children were taken into the care of WC Forensic Pathology Services," said Lambinon. 

"Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased children."

NSRI Knysna craft JayTee IV was used in the rescue efforts at Noetzie Beach. Photo: Blake Linder

Noetzie Beach

Meanwhile, at Noetzie Beach just outside Knysna, a young boy is believed to have been caught in a rip current while making his way back to the beach on Monday 2 October. According to Lambinon, NSRI Knysna duty crew were activated at 13:46 following reports of a drowning in progress at Noetzie Beach. NSRI rescue swimmers, the police services and ER24 responded to the scene, while the NSRI rescue craft JayTee IV and Katharine were launched.

"On arrival at the scene, a search commenced for a local male child, aged approximately eight," Lambinon said. 

According to information provided to the NSRI, the child had been swimming with friends when an adult on the beach suggested they return to the beach. 

"It is reported that at that stage the child may have been caught in a rip current. An adult bystander had reportedly attempted to rescue the child, before the child disappeared under water."

Knysna resident Duran de Villiers volunteered his private helicopter to assist in the search. NSRI rescue swimmers also conducted free-dive sweeping line searches in the surf. Despite the extensive air, sea and shoreline search there was no sign of the child by the end of Monday. Police and the police dive unit are continuing the search. 

"Thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing child in this difficult time," Lambinon said.

At the time of going to print, the boy's body had not yet been found, and police were continuing their search in the hope of providing the family with closure.

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