Earlier this week a 42-year-old British national drowned at Thompson’s Bay after being caught in a ripcurrent.

According to the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Ballito station commander, Quentin Power, the man was swimming after lifeguards had finished for the day, at around 5.15pm on Wednesday, February 16. 

“After the man got into difficulty, we understand that a woman on a surfboard and a teenager on the beach both attempted to save him, along with his brother who was also swimming. Together, they were able to get him onto the beach,” said Power.

NSRI members and paramedics arrived as the man was being hauled ashore, but it was already too late, he said.

“Lifesaving measures were attempted for over 45 minutes, but unfortunately, we were not able to save him.”

Although the man is a British citizen, he is from South Africa, with both of his parents still living locally.

As he is not resident in South Africa and his death was in unnatural circumstances, his name has not yet been released by the British embassy.

An inquest docket has been opened by Umhlali Saps.

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