SABIE – The Mac Mac Pools claimed two victims this weekend. A Saturday excursion ended tragically for an 18-year old male who slipped on a rock while taking photos and drowned in a three-meter deep pool. According to Capt Pottie Potgieter of the SAPS diving division, family members noticed the man’s absence just after 17:00 and reported him missing at 17:10. His body was recovered at 19:00. Family members confirmed that the victim could not swim.
In a second incident on Sunday, a young boy was found dead at the bottom of a shallow pool by other children. Paramedics on the scene said that orange foam was visible in his mouth, which could be indicative of a head injury. The boy was declared dead at 15:10 after paramedics and a medically trained tourist, Ms Yolande Swan, attempted to resuscitate him. According to eyewitnesses the mother of the boy was hysterical and had to receive medical treatment.
Life guards were apparently stationed at the pools closest to the braai facilities. The boy’s body was discovered in a pool further away. Komatiland, who manages the facility, could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
Potgieter said that, contrary to what most people think, it takes approximately five minutes to drown. “Once you inhale water, it doesn’t take long before you suffiocate.” This was the eight drowning this month that the division has on record, Potgieter confirmed. Most if these had been related to flooding rivers elsewhere in the province.
