A 13-year-old girl lost her life on Thursday while playing with friends in the Umlazi River in Hammarsdale, Durban.

Colin David, spokesperson for the Mi7 National Group, says the group’s emergency medical services, located at the Hibiscus Hospital Cato Ridge base, were dispatched to the Mpumalanga area near Hammarsdale.

Divers from Durban, Pietermaritzburg Search and Rescue officers, and Durban SAPS K9 Search and Rescue teams were also already en route to the scene, he adds.

“It is suspected that the teen was playing in the river with friends when she drowned.

“Police teams scoured the area, and eventually, a K9 officer indicated an area where the girl could potentially be located. Diving teams then got to work and managed to locate the teen’s body.

“The body was recovered after having to traverse 1km of rugged terrain. Mi7 medics conducted an assessment and declared her deceased,” says David.

The drowning is being investigated by police.