Hero dad drowns while trying to save daughter
"I know the holiday season is a hard time for any lifesaver and paramedic, but know you worked hard to save him and did everything you possibly could."
The identity of the man who drowned while trying to save his 11-year-old daughter has recently been made public.
Read initial article here: Father drowns while trying to save daughter
National news reports state that Tjaart van der Walt, 41, was a business analyst from Krugersdorp and the father of two daughters – Elmané, 11, and Tiannette, 9. He was holidaying at a friend’s beach house with his family at Glentana near Mossel Bay.
“Van der Walt and his family went to spend the day at Gleniqua Beach, Glentana just outside Mossel Bay on Thursday, 29 December 2016,” said Johan Labuschagne, a friend of Van der Walt. His two daughters were swimming in the surf.
Labuschagne said Van der Walt’s youngest, Tiannette, ran to her mother Elma, to tell her that her sister was in trouble.
Tjaart then ran to save Elmané from the strong current she was trapped in, but was unable to reach her.
Elmané was able to swim to safety by herself, but her father was swept away by the strong current.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) reported that a 21-year-old male saw that Van der Walt was in trouble and went in after him. The Pretoria resident himself almost drowned because of the strong current and was unable to save Van der Walt.
Van der Walt was later spotted among the waves and two people pulled him out of the water.
Lifesavers believe Van der Walt was under water for approximately 10 minutes before he was found. Emergency personnel tried to resuscitate him, but failed. He was declared dead on scene and his body was taken to a mortuary.
The family said Elmané knows her father tried to save her life and that they were fortunate that she was left unimpaired despite her near drowning.
Elma and the two girls were said to have returned to Gauteng on Friday, 30 December.
“An autopsy still had to be done when last reported on (30 December),” said Carin Kruger, the Van der Walt’s sister-in-law.
“After the autopsy, the family will decide on a funeral date.”
Elma said during this difficult time she realised how close their entire family is. “I don’t think there is another family who stand together like ours – whether they are family by marriage or distant relatives, everyone supported us, helped us and gave us love when we needed it the most,” she said.
Elma said she and her family thank the bystanders who were willing to put their own lives in jeopardy to try to save Tjaart’s life in the water and on the beach.
“A special thanks to the paramedics, lifesavers and specialist who tried to save his life as well,” Elma said. “God sees the work you do.
“I know the holiday season is a hard time for any lifesaver and paramedic, but know you worked hard to save him and did everything you possibly could. Know that God was with him in death and has come to fetch him and take him to His kingdom.”
Elma thanks every single bystander who prayed, watched over their belongings and helped the family through their horrific time on the beach.
(Original article by Jackie Kruger. Read Network24’s article here: https://www.netwerk24.com/Nuus/Algemeen/glentana-tragedie-dogter-11-weet-pa-het-haar-gered-20161230)
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