Man drowns when he tries to search for another drowning victim (16)
The first victim was a 16-year-old boy who went swimming with his friends when he drowned.
A man drowned when he tried to help search for another drowning victim in Clayville on Saturday afternoon.
Also read: Safety tips for swimming
Ivory Park SAPS detectives opened inquests after the two people drowned in a dam in Clayville Extension 45.
It was reported by the Ivory Park SAPS communications officer, Captain Bernard Matimulane, that the first victim was a 16-year-old boy who went swimming with his friends when he drowned.
“His terrified friends went to notify the boy’s parents who quickly rushed to the scene. On arrival the parent and other bystanders started searching in the area directed to them by the boys who were with the victim.
“Unfortunately one of the community members assisting with the search in the dam also drowned in the process. He is in his early 20s. An inquest was opened at the Ivory Park SAPS and investigations are underway,” said Capt Matimulane.
The Station Commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Brigadier David Ngcobo, is appealing for caution and for people to be careful when playing in rivers, streams and dams, the depth of which they don’t know. Brigadier Ngcobo asked people to call for help from people with the necessary expertise when things such as this happen.
He believes the second drowning could have been avoided had the police been called to the scene to take over the retrieval task.
