Drownings show a sharp increase
Yes, some drown because they never learned to swim, but others drown because they were drunk and got entangled in something in the water
SCHOEMANSDAL – Leaders have urged residents to refrain from allowing their children to go swimming in nearby rivers and dams. This follows the increase in drownings in the area the past week. Six children had been reported missing and were allegedly last seen going swimming in a river or dam nearby.
According to locals more and more children and some adults are flocking to rivers as a result of the high temperatures.
Although there are lodges in the area that provide pool facilities at a cost, residents still opt for the rivers.
“It becomes very hot and there are no public swimming pools, so where else apart from the dams and rivers should we go to cool off and escape the heat? It becomes tragic that some of us who go swimming end up drowning,” said a local who also goes swimming in the river from time to time.
The resident who spoke to Corridor Gazette added that alcohol was part of the cause of the drownings.
He said, “We all know that water and alcohol don’t mix at all. But no-one is there to tell the others what not to do, and what
to do.
“Yes, some drown because they never learned to swim, but others drown because they were drunk and got entangled in something in the water.”
