Drop in festive season drownings across Zululand

While drownings were reported across the Zululand region over the Christmas and New Year period, only one fatal and one near-drowning occurred within the City of uMhlathuze.

The near-drowning took place at Alkantstrand on Tuesday afternoon, January 4. A female was rescued from the sea and transported to Ngwelezana Hospital in a stable condition.

Here is a list of the reported drownings since just before Christmas:

• 23 December: A mother (21) and child (4) drowned in the Mtunzini area. Their bodies were recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers the following day.
• 23 December: The body of an adult male was recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers from a river in Mahlabathini after his vehicle plunged into the river.
• 25 December: The body of a nine-year-old was recovered by the community in the Mbongolwane area.
• 26 December: A male drowned in the Pongola River in the Ndumo area. His body was recovered by police divers.
• 28 December: A 50-year-old holidaymaker from Louis Trichardt drowned at Sodwana Bay. His body was recovered by local divers.
• 29 December: The body of a female was retrieved by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers from the Mfolozi River in the Ulundi area.
• 29 December: The body of a child was recovered at the Bay Hall area in Richards Bay by the Saps ORS Sea Borderline Unit.
• 1 January: An 11-year-old boy drowned in Ndumo. His body was recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Recue divers the following day.
• 1 January: In two separate incidents, two young men drowned in Amatikhulu. The bodies of both victims (21 and 26) were recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers the following day.
• 4 January: Near-drowning at Alkantstrand in Richards Bay. A woman was rescued and taken to hospital in a stable condition.