SEDGEFIELD NEWS - A man passed away on Saturday 30 January after he drowned in the Swartvlei Lake just outside Sedgefield, despite concerted efforts by bystanders and emergency personnel to resuscitate him.
NSRI Wilderness station commander Garth Dominy said that NSRI Wilderness rescue swimmers, the police, Knysna Fire and Rescue and ER24 ambulance services responded to a call from Swartvlei at 12:47 on Saturday after bystanders raised the alarm reporting a drowning in progress.
"On arrival on the scene it was determined that a bystander, a local man, had recovered an adult male from under the water and then, assisted by other bystanders, they had initiated CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) efforts," Dominy said. "Sadly paramedics declared the man deceased."
The body of the deceased was taken into the care of Western Cape Pathology Services and police have opened an inquest docket.
The children who had been with the deceased - his 13-year-old daughter and three of her cousins, boys aged 13, 12 and 6, all from Knysna - were taken into the care of the police.
"NSRI, on behalf of the emergency services, has commended the bystanders, a man and his two children, who assisted on the scene. Another three bystanders who stopped their vehicle to assist on the scene are also commended," Dominy said.
The NSRI requests that the bystanders who assisted and the three who are believed to have stopped their vehicle to assist, contact the NSRI on 082 380 3800.
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