Two elderly Dutch women were swept out to sea by strong rip currents yesterday and only one managed to get safely back to shore.
During a search by NSRI St Francis Bay, the body of the other woman, aged 65, was located about 300 meters off-shore and brought the sea rescue base at the St Francis Bay port, where a doctor declared her to be deceased.
According to the NSRI news release, at about 5.30 pm yesterday evening, 15 January 2014, NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew responded NSRI rescue swimmers and launched the sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis Ii following reports of two women being swept out to sea by rip currents at Cape St Francis.
On arrival one woman, 58, a Dutch tourist, was found safe on the beach after reportedly being rescued from the surf by a bystander and a search commenced for the other tourist.
During a search the body of the woman was located approximately 300 meters off-shore and recovered onto the sea rescue craft where CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) efforts were commenced by NSRI medics while the sea rescue craft raced to the NSRI St Francis Bay sea rescue base where a doctor declared the female deceased.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
The survivor is being supported by SAP and the travel company and the Dutch Consulate are assisting.
The body of the deceased woman has been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services.
NSRI expresses its sincere condolences to the family.
According to the NSRI’s national statistics released this week, there were were a total of 31 fatal drowning incidents (19 adults and 12 children from 1 December 2014 – 14 January 2015. Rip currents were the greatest risk to bathers, claiming the lives of 9 people ( 5 of whom were children).
(edited)
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