Yesterday, a young girl has drowned at a KwaZulu-Natal beach while divers are still looking for a boy who was washed off the rocks at a beach in the Western Cape. Both incidents happened after 15:00.

Despite efforts by members of the public, lifeguards and paramedics to save her life, a seven-year-old girl drowned at Durban View Park Beach in uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.

Paramedics responded to the incident at the non-swimming beach just after 15:00.

The girl was pulled out of the surf by members of the public, and they began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with lifeguards from uMhlanga.

“On arrival of paramedics, members of the public had already pulled the girl from the surf, and CPR was initiated in conjunction with uMhlanga lifeguards. Despite the extensive efforts the patient was declared deceased,” Medi Response spokesperson Janus van Schalkwyk said.

Earlier this year, two drownings prompted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) to install pink rescue buoys along the beachfront.

In February, a Russian tourist (47) and a 29-year-old man from Phoenix, drowned in the same area.

Working alongside lifeguards, drowning hotspots were identified between Durban View Park and where the viewing deck at Breakers Resort used to be, and the new rescue buoys were positioned accordingly for maximum visibility and easy access.

• The NSRI said in a statement this morning that their Hout Bay crew yesterday responded to a call at 15:47 of a nine-year-old boy who was missing after reportedly being washed of the rocks at Sandy Bay.

The boy was visiting the beach with friends and relatives.

Rescue vessels as well as a helicopter searched for the child until daylight was lost. Police divers are continuing the search today.