Pupil drowns in 'quick dip'
2008-06-03 21:00
Thabisile Khoza
Tonga - A 15-year-old girl drowned in a swimming pool at the Far East Country Lodge in Tongaview village south of Malalane in Mpumalanga about 10:00.
Four Grade 10 pupils from DD Mabuza Comprehensive School in Zibokwane had skipped class on Tuesday, said Constable Mzwandile Nyambi.
He said two girls got into trouble, but only one drowned while the other one was resuscitated, treated at Tonga Hospital and discharged.
The survivor, Philile Ngwenya, 15, said the girls had asked their teacher if they could go home to have breakfast.
"On our way we decided to go and swim at the guesthouse. We paid the R10 fee each and started swimming."
She woke up in hospital
She said: "Everything happened so fast. We were swimming and playing and one of our friends insisted that we go deeper and do more tricks.
"She grabbed me and we both went under," she said tearfully. She woke up in hospital.
"I found myself in hospital and learnt that my friend had drowned," said the girl.
Lodge manager Miriam Sifundza, 40, said all the staff were in shock.
"It's the first time such an incident has happened since the pool was built in 2004," she said.
- African Eye