Jhb drownings hit 15
2006-12-17 12:24
Johannesburg - Two more people drowned in separate incidents in the Johannesburg area during the weekend, emergency services said on Sunday.
In the first incident, a man was found submerged in a mining community swimming pool at Grootvlei in Springs on the East Rand on Saturday afternoon, Netcare 911 spokesperson Neil Dollman said.
A woman called paramedics at 13:30 after she saw the man floating in the pool.
Dollman said life guards pulled him out and tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail.
Details of the victim would be released once his family was notified of his death.
On Saturday evening, at 20:15, a teenage boy was found submerged at a jetty at the Florida Lake Yacht Club on the West Rand.
Friends of the boy reported that he went into the water but never resurfaced.
They called paramedics to the scene at 15:40 and a search immediately began.
"A paramedic who arrived on the scene stripped down to his shorts and got into the water to try locate the teenager," said Dollman.
Flood lights were used to illuminate the area and about two hours after the search began, police divers found the body.
"Since December 1, Netcare 911 has attended to 15 drownings or near-drownings in the Johannesburg area."
Dollman said 11 of the victims were children under the age of 10.
Six of the victims died at the scene, with three people drowning in swimming pools since Thursday.
"We advise the public to be extra careful especially at busy swimming pools where there is a lot of activity.
"Parents should swim with their children when in a crowded pool to prevent further tragedies," he said.
- SAPA