Port Alfred free diving tragedy claims life of young East London man
Authorities have opened an inquest after a man failed to resurface during a dive in the Kowie River.
A 22-year-old man who had been on a free diving expedition in a river in Port Alfred was declared dead following extensive resuscitation efforts by emergency services and hospital staff yesterday.
According to an article published by The Witness, just before 09:00 yesterday, the National Search and Rescue Institute (NSRI), police and Gardmed Ambulance Services were activated following reports of a man missing in the Kowie River, approximately 3kms upstream from the river mouth.
Spokesperson for the NSRI, Craig Lambinon, says two NSRI rescue craft, Rescue 11 Alpha and Lotto Challenger, along with a medic, responded.
“On arrival, it was found that there were three men on their boat. [It is believed] that two of the men had been free diving when one man had failed to surface,” Lambinon says.
His friend was in the water conducting free dive search efforts.
NSRI rescue swimmers were deployed into the water, where, during free dive search efforts, the missing man was located and recovered.
“[He was taken onto] an NSRI rescue craft, and CPR efforts commenced and continued until the rescue craft reached the NSRI Port Alfred station 11 rescue base,” Lambinon says.
He adds that Gardmed paramedics, assisted by NSRI, continued with CPR efforts and a pulse was detected while en route to the hospital in a Gardmed ambulance.
While in the ambulance, the man reportedly went into cardiac arrest and on arrival at the hospital, doctors and nurses took over with extensive CPR efforts.
After all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted in the hospital, the man was declared deceased by doctors.
According to Lambinon, a police inquest docket has been opened.
The cause for the man, who is from East London, not resurfacing while free diving is still unknown.
Lambinon conveyed condolences to man’s family and friends.
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Read original story on witness.co.za
