Four children nearly drown in Swakop

Four children nearly drown in Swakop An eight-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl were rescued by bystanders in a near drowning incident at Pebble on Tuesday.

A girl, 13, was also rescued on Monday by bystanders who took her out of the water and immediately started administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A doctor who was on leave from South Africa, took over and managed to resuscitate the girl. According to the chief of the Swakopmund fire brigade, Adri Goosen, the girl’s father was at the scene.

“He said he had turned around when he heard a scream not realising it was his daughter screaming. Everyone was quick to assist. She was stabilised at the scene.”

She was taken to hospital where she received further treatment.

During a separate incident on Saturday, a girl was also rescued by bystanders after encountering trouble while swimming. She was also stabilised at the scene. She was taken to hospital for a check-up after she was slightly injured from being tossed against the rocks by the waves at the Mole.

The deputy station commander of the Sea Rescue Institute of Namibia, Petrus van Staden, said that visitors should be careful while swimming.

“If you know you can’t swim, or you are not a very good swimmer don’t go in too deep. Be mindful of the tides,” he said.

He also mentioned that the sea will be rougher over the next two to three days.

In another unrelated incident a 67-year-old pensioner committed suicide Monday morning at 09:15. Harald Stauder allegedly shot himself with a revolver in the mouth at his home. This was confirmed by the regional crime investigations coordinator, Chief Inspector Erastus Ikuyu. No suicide note was left and his next of kin have been informed.

Leandrea Louw