The National Sea Rescue Institute confirmed the drowning on Monday.
Image: Pexels.com/ Ayyub Jauro
A 30-year-old man from Johannesburg tragically drowned in the Gonubie River during a friends' outing on Sunday afternoon, despite attempts to resuscitate him.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) confirmed the drowning on Monday.
NSRI East London station commander Cathrine Prentis said that at approximately 2.45pm on Sunday, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) lifeguards on duty at Gonubie Beach were alerted to the incident.
“BCMM lifeguards, while on duty at Gonubie Beach, were alerted by a man running towards them, raising the alarm and reporting a drowning incident almost a kilometre upstream on the Gonubie River,” she said.
"Lifeguards responded while alerting NSRI East London, Priority Care ambulance services and the South African Police Service.”
On arrival, lifeguards began CPR on an adult male who had been rescued from the water by a local teenager.
“On arrival on the scene, BCMM lifeguards initiated CPR efforts on an adult male who had been rescued from the water by a local teenager,” Prentis said.
Paramedics later joined them, but despite extensive resuscitation efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene.
“The body of the man, aged 30, from Johannesburg, has been taken into the care of police and government health forensic pathology services,” she said.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
“Condolences are conveyed to family, friends and colleagues of the deceased man,” Prentis added.
It is understood that three friends, all work colleagues from Johannesburg, had been visiting the river. Two of the men were swimming when one got into difficulty and disappeared under the water.
“It appears that three friends, work colleagues from Johannesburg, were visiting the river when we believe two of the men were swimming and one got into difficulties, disappearing under water,” she said.
Three local residents - an adult man and two teenage brothers - reportedly witnessed the incident.
According to Prentis, one of the teenagers went to the man’s aid and, assisted by his brother, managed to locate and recover him from the water, bringing him to the shoreline.
“The local adult man had run down to the beach seeking help and raising the alarm,” Prentis said.