DURBAN: A man suffered a heart attack and died while walking towards the water with his surfboard in hand at the Bay of Plenty Beach in Durban on Tuesday.
Metro police spokesperson senior Superintendent Parbhoo Sewpersad said a known man, who was around 45 years, was out with a surfboard at the Bay of Plenty Beach when he suffered a heart attack.
Sewpersad said paramedics were in attendance but, unfortunately, the man was declared dead at the scene.
“Our members handed over the remains to Durban Central SAPS members on scene,” he said.
Lybon Makhubele, the regional manager of Maponya 911 ambulance service, said he and the Metro Police Search and Rescue team were present at the scene at around noon yesterday.
Makhubele said that when paramedics arrived, surfers were performing CPR on the man.
He said paramedics continued with CPR but the man remained unresponsive and was declared dead on the scene.
According to reports, the man was walking with a friend towards the water with his surfboard when he grabbed his chest and dropped to the sand, he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said an inquest docket is being investigated by Durban Central SAPS
“It is alleged that yesterday at 13:00, a body of a 45-year-old man was found on Snell Parade. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated,” she said.
The Mercury’s sister publication The Post, reported last month that the Queensburgh High School principal, who was also a goalkeeper for the Isipingo Soccer Legends, died of a heart attack while playing soccer.
Sunil Bodasing, 60, died on the school grounds while playing a friendly match against Newlands Football Club.
Ganny Govender, the chairperson of the Isipingo Soccer Legends, said that an hour before Bodasing's death, he was trimming the lawn before the match.
“He died doing what he loved most, and that was playing soccer. While the game was on, although the ball was not near him, he suddenly collapsed at the goalpost. The players, thereafter, contacted the paramedics, who could not resuscitate him as his heart attack was massive.
“His death was sudden, untimely, and tragic, especially with all of us at the club being there with him,” said Govender.
THE MERCURY