There were five drowning incidents on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in the past two weeks. Lifesaving South Africa reported these incidents, highlighting the urgent need for caution among bathers.

The non-profit organisation stated that in the first incident, a 24-year-old man drowned at Scottburgh when lifeguards were not on duty. “On the first day of February, reports were received of an adult female who drowned at a remote stretch of beach between Pipeline and Toti Main Beach in Amanzimtoti.”

There was also a family tragedy reported at Hibberdene beach, where a 13-year-old boy was swept out to sea in a rip current. Attempts to rescue him resulted in one of his uncles also drowning. The body of the uncle was recovered soon after the incident, while the search for the 13-year-old nephew is ongoing.

Another young boy drowned at Umzumbe beach on February 2. Lifesaving South Africa advised that bathers should not swim at beaches designated as non-bathing beaches or at bathing beaches where lifeguards are not present.

According to statistics released by the organisation, there were 27 drowning incidents in December last year across the five provinces where figures were recorded: KZN, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.

Of these incidents, 15 occurred at beaches, seven in rivers, with the remainder in pools and dams.

THE MERCURY