CAPE TOWN - A West coast family is mourning the drowning of their 26-year-old mentally challenged son whose body was found in a dam at the foot of the Gifberg Mountain after he went missing nearly two weeks ago.
The discovery on Sunday came as police opened two separate inquest dockets after other incidents in Gordon’s Bay at the weekend, while in Clanwilliam rescuers were unable to save a Mthatha woman who drowned while swimming with family.
Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation executive director Billy Claasen said Aden Gous was visiting his mother at a farm in Vanrhynsdorp when he went missing.
“The body of their beloved was found at midday between reeds at a dam at the foot of the Gifberg Mountain.
“The family of the deceased wants to thank the police for their commitment. After the 26-year-old young man disappeared, his family contacted me for help because, according to them, the police were not very helpful. We made sure that services reached the family,” Claasen said.
Separately a 27-year-old Zimbabwean man was found at the water's edge in Gordons Bay on Sunday morning.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said the drowning was reported after a decomposed body was discovered along Clarence Drive also in Gordons Bay, on Friday.
“It is suspected that the victim has drowned, however an investigation is underway and an inquest case docket has been registered.
“The circumstances surrounding the death of an unknown male person are being investigated after his decomposed body was found close to Clarence Drive, Gordons Bay on Friday afternoon.
“A death inquest case docket has been registered. The victim is yet to be identified,” said Traut.
On Saturday afternoon just after 4pm, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) assisted Clanwilliam lifeguards after a woman got into difficulty in the Clanwilliam Dam, said NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
“At 4.10pm NSRI Clanwilliam Lifeguards while on patrol in an area which does not have lifeguards on duty, and were alerted by public members to a drowning in progress.
“Lifeguards immediately initiated a free-dive search for a 21-year-old woman from Mthatha reported to have disappeared underwater while swimming with family members only a few minutes prior to the arrival of the lifeguards on duty.
“During the free-dive search efforts the woman was almost immediately located and recovered from under the water and brought to shore where CPR efforts were commenced,” said Lambinon.
The woman was taken to Clanwilliam Hospital by a civilian vehicle where CPR efforts continued but failed, said Lambinon.
Cederberg Municipality mayor, Ruben Richards confirmed the matter was with police and he would be meeting with various directorates today to be briefed formally.
“We are sad that this has happened and share our condolences with the family. The matter is police at the moment for purposes of investigation. We will meet today (Monday) to see what we can do further,” said Richards.
Cape Times