Paternoster woman drowns after slipping on rocks while fishing
Emergency crews launched an extensive sea, air and shoreline search after a young woman was swept into the surf.
A 26-year-old woman from Paternoster drowned yesterday afternoon after falling into the surf while fishing off the rocks at Tietiesbaai, near Cape Columbine Nature Reserve in the Western Cape.
The Witness reports that, according to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), the woman’s boyfriend, also 26, jumped into the water to try and save her, while their friend ran to get help.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon says emergency services, including the SAPS, West Coast Government Health EMS and West Coast Medical Rescue, responded to the scene around 15:47.
“Paramedics medically treated the 26-year-old male on the scene before transporting him to the hospital in a serious condition. He is recovering,” says Lambinon.
NSRI Mykonos and St Helena Bay duty crews, along with police and EMS Metro Rescue, launched an air, sea and shoreline search for the missing woman.
“A private drone was in operation searching for the female in the water, and the NSRI rescue craft joined in the search,” Lambinon says.
The drone later located her in the surf, and our rescue craft, guided by the drone, recovered her from the water.
Despite efforts by paramedics to resuscitate her, she was declared dead on arrival at St Helena Bay harbour.
Her body was taken into the care of the police and forensic pathology services. Police have opened an inquest docket.
“Condolences are conveyed to family and friends of the deceased,” says Lambinon.
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