Camps Bay tidal pool tragedy: Boy, 8, dies despite desperate CPR efforts - IOL
An 8-year-old boy has tragically died after drowning at the Bakoven Beach tidal pool in Cape Town.
An eight-year-old boy died after being pulled out unresponsive from a Camps Bay tidal pool on Monday.
The incident marks the second drowning emergency in the immediate vicinity within 48 hours, highlighting the ongoing risks along the popular stretch of coastline.
"At 5.41pm, Monday, October 5, NSRI Bakoven duty crew and the City of Cape Town water rescue network were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at the Camps Bay tidal pool," said National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon.
Prior to the arrival of rescue teams, members of the public intervened immediately after discovering the boy submerged in the pool.
"Local bystanders recovered the eight-year-old male child from the water and commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)," Lambinon said.
A multi-agency emergency response team rapidly converged on the scene at Camps Bay Beach, including NSRI Bakoven duty medics, Clifton and City of Cape Town lifeguards, Western Cape Government Health EMS rescue personnel, ER24 paramedics, Netcare 911, community medics, City Law Enforcement, Camps Bay CID, and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Upon arrival, medical personnel immediately took over resuscitation efforts from the bystanders. "Paramedics took over resuscitation efforts, applying advanced life support protocols," Lambinon explained.
"Despite exhaustive CPR efforts to revive the child, he was sadly declared deceased on the scene," Lambinon said.
The boy, from a Somali family now based in Cape Town, had been spending time at the beach with relatives and was reportedly playing in and around the tidal pool prior to being submerged.
"The body of the deceased child has been taken into the care of the Western Cape Government Health Forensic Pathology Service," Lambinon confirmed.
"SAPS have opened an inquest docket to investigate the circumstances of the incident."
Lambinon expressed sympathy to the family and confirmed that counselling support was being arranged.
