DURBAN - A 12-year-old boy was the third person in two days to narrowly escape drowning.
On Wednesday KwaZulu Private Ambulance (KZPA) service responded to a a drowning in progress at a low level bridge in Grimthorpe Avenue, crossing the Duzi River.
KZPA said when they arrived they found a 12-year-old boy had been playing with his friends in the river, upstream from the bridge, and had been sucked under the bridge into water pipes.
“With the help of his friends and Bishopstowe community members they managed to keep his head above water and secure whilst waiting for help to arrive. When SAPS Search and Rescue arrived on the scene they managed to extricate him against the strong pull of the current,” KZPA said.
“Paramedics assessed the boy and found him to be in a stable condition, thankfully only having sustained severe bruising.”
KZPA said the young boy was treated on the scene before being transported to a local medical facility for further treatment.
There have been a number of drowning and near-drowning incidents in KZN over the last few days.
On Tuesday an adult and child was taken to hospital by ambulance after they survived a near-drowning on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
KZPA had responded to the Glenmore Beach area following reports of a near-drowning on Tuesday afternoon.
KZPA said when emergency services arrived, they found that two patients were being treated by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Port Edward.
“According to witnesses, a 14-year-old child and adult got caught in a current. Lifesavers rushed to their assistance and managed to pull the patients to safety,” KZPA said.
“Paramedics continued treating the patients for near-drowning and transported the child to hospital for further care.”
Over the weekend an eight-year-old child died in hospital following a drowning incident at a resort in Port Edward.
NSRI Port Edward had started cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the child who had drowned in a pool. Advanced Life Support paramedics took over resuscitation and were able to get the child’s heart beating again.
The child was rushed to the hospital with advanced life support intervention but despite all the efforts of paramedics and hospital staff, the child deteriorated and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Daily News