Tragedy as Middelburg teen girl drowns
A young girl has drowned in a river close to Nasaret in Middelburg, after being swept into a flooded river during severe weather, yesterday afternoon. Three other children survived and were taken to hospital for observation as emergency services responded to the scene.
Tragedy unfolded near a new RDP housing development in Middelburg late yesterday afternoon, when four children were reportedly swept into a fast-flowing river following sudden, heavy rainfall.
The incident occurred at approximately 17:45 yesterday (1 January) in the Nasaret area, where residents are forced to cross the river daily to reach their homes, schools and nearby shops due to the lack of safe access routes.
Initial information confirmed that four children were in the water when the river overflowed after intense rainfall. A 14 year old girl drowned, while the other children managed to survive including a 12 year old boy, who was barely able to save himself from the icy water.
Emergency services responded to the scene, and all surviving children were transported by ambulance to Middelburg Provincial Hospital. Some are reported to be experiencing shortness of breath, while one younger child has been described as inconsolable and crying continuously following the ordeal.
The body of the deceased girl was recovered approximately 300 meters downstream by SAPS members and a police diving unit.
This tragedy is the latest in a string of drowning incidents in Middelburg over the past two months, many linked to flooding, unsafe river crossings and inadequate infrastructure near residential areas.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
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