Lifesaving South Africa issues urgent safety warning after KZN bathers swept out to sea

Lifesaving South Africa has issued an urgent warning after two separate incidents occurred on Friday in KwaZulu-Natal involving bathers being washed out to sea, with a search still under way for one of the individuals.

The organisation is cautioning beachgoers to swim only in areas monitored by lifeguards.

Lifesaving South Africa media officer Dhaya Sewduth said a report was received at around 10.30am on Friday about an incident at Tiger Rocks, Isipingo Beach, where three males were washed out to sea.

He said eThekwini lifeguards at the Tiger Rocks pool assisted in rescuing two of the bathers and brought them back to shore.

“They were examined and found to be in a stable condition. They were then released to go home,” he said.

Sewduth stated that the third male, believed to be around 25 years old, is still missing.

He said the eThekwini lifeguards, together with the assistance of a private security company, assisted with the search following the incident.

“ET Security has launched a drone to search the beach, from Tiger Rocks to Mackenzie's, and they are expecting more assistance from eThekwini professional lifeguards together with their jet ski to patrol the beach,” said Sewduth.

During the search operation on Friday, Sewduth said conditions were quite bad, with the spring tide running.

He explained that the incident likely occurred at low tide. “This means that the victims were sucked out to sea pretty quickly in the spring lows.”

According to Sewduth, spring tides occur twice in lunar months. “The low tides are lower, usually with a stronger pull seawards during ‘draining’ conditions. High tides are usually higher as the waves ‘push’ shorewards, making conditions hectic.” 

Sewduth further explained that this area is a non-bathing beach, which is unfortunately frequented by residents from the nearby informal settlement.

A few hours later at the eManzimtoti Main Beach, Sewduth said a child was washed out and rescued by a lifeguard.

“This shows why it is so important for bathers to only swim where lifeguards are on duty,” he said.

In an update on the search for the missing man on Saturday, he said a search was conducted in the morning, and there was no sign of the body.

“Due to the massive sea conditions, the south and north current and swell, it is going to be very difficult to do a water search,” Sewduth said.

Beach searchers will continue from Tiger Rocks and go north all the way to Isipingo.

karen.singh@inl.co.za