Tragedy as two men drown at Mnandi Beach
· The South African
Two men have died after drowning near Mnandi Beach in False Bay on Sunday afternoon.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said its Strandfontein duty crew was activated at 16:40 following reports of a drowning in progress at the S-Bend near Mnandi Beach.
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The alarm was raised by the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement marine unit and multiple eyewitnesses.
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NSRI rescue swimmers and a rescue vehicle responded, along with the South African Police Service (SAPS), Cape Town Disaster Risk Management, Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service, Western Cape Government Health EMS, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Life Healthcare response paramedics.
The NSRI rescue craft Rotarian Wares, which was operating nearby, also diverted to the scene.
Two men declared dead
When NSRI crews arrived, the two men had already been recovered from the water and were on the beach.
Rescuers immediately began CPR on both men, with law enforcement officers, emergency services, police and paramedics joining the resuscitation efforts.
Despite extensive attempts to revive them, both men were declared deceased by paramedics after resuscitation efforts were exhausted.
Swimming in shallow surf
According to the NSRI, the two men had been swimming with a group of locals in shallow surf.
Members of the group reportedly discovered that the two men were face down in the water. They were pulled from the water and the emergency services were alerted.
The deceased were a 37-year-old man from Nyanga and a 42-year-old man from Philippi.
Their bodies were handed over to police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.
Police have opened an inquest docket into the incident.
The NSRI conveyed its condolences to the families and loved ones of the two men.