18-year-old drowns while swimming in Dzindi River, Limpopo

An 18-year-old boy from Lwamondo, Tshishuahuru village, drowned while swimming with a friend in the Dzindi River in Limpopo on Sunday afternoon.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said officers were on patrol when they were informed that a male had drowned in the river.

“Police proceeded to the river, where they found the friend of the deceased, who indicated that they were swimming when an 18-year-old male victim from Lwamondo, Tshishuahuru village, allegedly drowned,” Ledwaba said.

Body recovered from river

Ledwaba said members of the Search and Rescue Unit were summoned to the scene and retrieved the body from the river.

Emergency medical services personnel declared him dead at the scene.

The teen was positively identified by his next of kin.

Police have opened an inquest at Thohoyandou police station to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Nine-year-old dies at Western Cape beach

In a separate incident, a nine-year-old boy died at Kleinmond Main Beach Lagoon in the Western Cape on Saturday afternoon.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Kleinmond crew was alerted at 3.12pm after eyewitnesses reported a drowning in progress.

Station commander Schalk Boonzaaier said rescue swimmers, NSRI medics, the CMC Critical Care Medical ambulance service, ER24, Overstrand Fire and Rescue Services and the South African Police Service (SAPS) responded to the scene.

Resuscitation efforts unsuccessful

Boonzaaier said bystanders were recovering the child from the water when emergency responders arrived. Resuscitation efforts had already been started by bystanders, including a clinical practitioner.

“NSRI medics continued with CPR efforts and were joined on the scene by paramedics,” he said.

Despite extensive efforts, the boy could not be saved and was declared dead by paramedics.

The child had been visiting the beach with his family.

His body was handed over to the police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Service. Police are also providing support to the bereaved family.

An inquest docket was opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death.

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