Durban — A day of festivities ended in tragedy on Durban's beachfront when a freak wave claimed three lives while 17 people were injured.
While throngs of bathers converged on the south beach, a freak wave pushed bathers against the pier. Three drowned while 17 were treated on the scene for minor to serious injuries before they were taken to hospital.
According KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mckenzie, they responded to the incident on Saturday afternoon on the eThekwini Bay of Plenty beach where a freak wave washed people out to sea.
“Three people drowned and 17 people were treated and transported to hospital. This, after a freak wave hit bathers at the Durban beachfront," he said.
In a brief statement on Saturday evening, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela confirmed that three people died, including a teenager, drowned during the incident.
"It took a team of 35 lifeguards to execute a mass rescue effort and another team of paramedics to attend to the more than 100 people who were involved in the incident. Despite the best efforts of the emergency response team, three people lost their lives, with others transported to the hospital," Mayisela said.
"The municipality is saddened by the tragedy and sends its condolences to the families of the deceased."
Meanwhile, IOL reported that one man died and another is fighting for his life following two drowning incidents at KZN beaches on Friday.
According to IPSS Medical Rescue managing director Dylan Meyrick, a man drowned at the Casuarina Beach in oThongathi.
“Reports from the scene indicate that an adult male got into difficulty while swimming and was pulled from the water by a bystander. The man was unresponsive and CPR was commenced by lifeguards. Resuscitation efforts were then continued by IPSS Medical Rescue and Netcare 911.
“Unfortunately, despite best efforts from all involved the man was declared deceased,” Meyrick said.
Earlier on Friday, a man ended up in a serious condition after a near drowning incident in Ballito.
According to Medi Response spokesperson Paul Herbst, the victim had been swimming at an unprotected beach near Emberton Way.
“The man had been swimming and got into difficulty. Lifeguards were notified and responded, and managed to pull the man from the water.
“He was stabilised at the beach before he was transported by ambulance to a hospital nearby,” Herbst said.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE