Pool drownings under scrutiny

The drowning of a young child at the Meerensee municipal pool on Saturday has drawn angry reaction from residents, especially in light of a similar tragedy at the Empangeni pool just weeks earlier.

Mfundo Mlambo (5), who according to police resided in Ulundi, was first noticed by a family member who saw the child on the bottom of the deep end of the pool.

He was lifted from the water and lifeguards and medics who responded tried in vain to resuscitate the boy, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Police also recorded the drowning death of a 77 year-old man in a home pool in Brackenham late Sunday afternoon.

His lifeless body was discovered by an occupant of the house and he too could not be revived.

This comes after a similar incident at the Empangeni pool earlier this month where a child was revived after a near drowning, but remains in a coma.

With a number of early season drownings already recorded, authorities are calling for extra vigilance, especially in ocean areas.

At the same time, swimming instructors are saying that prevention is the best answer, and that teaching children to swim and getting adults to refrain from alcohol near water would bring lasting outcomes.

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