Tourist drowns at Cape St Francis
Sarah Smith, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander that reported that the NSRI St Francis Bay duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress at a beach known as Ducks Beach, near to the Cape St Francis Resort at around 1:30 yesterday after .
NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to the scene and the sea rescue craft Spirit of St Francis II was launched.
Cape St Francis drowning
On arrival on the scene we joined staff of the Cape St Francis Resort, bystanders and surfers searching in the water for a 58 year old German tourist missing in the surf after being swept out to sea by strong rip currents.
It appears that a group of tourists from a tour group had gone into the surf where some were wading in shallow water but one man had gone in deeper where, according to eye-witnesses, he had been swept out to sea by strong rip currents before disappearing under water.
Reportedly the tourists that had been wading in shallow water had all been able to get out of the surf.
Extensive Search
Despite an extensive sea and shoreline search, including rescue swimmers deployed into the surf to free dive search, in extremely strong rip currents, no sign of the man has been found and Police have been called to open an investigation and to continue an ongoing search operation.
At the time of publishing the body had not yet been recovered
I watched this drama unfolding from my deck. I felt extremely upset and angered that another unsuspecting overseas tourist had drowned. It is high time that Cape St Francis Resort take every measure possible to ensure that these visitors know and understand the risks at the beach. This may include putting p a clear warning sign and a security guard/lifesaver on duty also to alert and warn swimmers. We cannot expect tourists to spend their money here and not take the necessary action to ensure their safety! In fact it is ethically and morally wrong to just sit back and not take action! Please heed this call to love our neighbours.
I agree with Sharon. Yet another tragic loss. How many is it now in the last 5 years – is it 2 or 3 drownings and a few near misses? Tourists are clearly under the impression that it is ok to swim in the sea at Cape St Francis, despite the Resort warning them profusely about rip currents. Maybe the message should be. “No it’s not safe” unless supervised or unless you have a floatation device or at least someone has one.
It’s not such a crazy idea for the resort to employ a local lifeguard armed with a Malibu for a few months a year, probably at a fraction of the cost of what a tour group of Germans are paying the Resort to come stay; not to mention the cummulative loss of the business for years to come as potential guests are ‘scared off’.
Here’s another thought – The same tourists are probably paying a game ranger way more for a safe Safari – would they not pay for a properly supervised swim? We have the likes of Cody’s Surf Camp and Liquid Lines down the road, capable, committed and keen for the business.
The facts speak for themselves – what ever is being done is clearly insufficient because people continue to die at our beach.
As passed director, of N.S.R.I, I get a coppy of every call out and every drowning covering the entire South African coast and inland. According to our figures there are apromatly 2000 people, yes two thousand, are drowned plus minus 600 of those are children.Although 2 or 3 have been drowned at the Resort is 2 to two many I must congratulate the Resort, they are doing a damn good job.There ar boards on the warning the dangers and what to do if caught in a rip current theese boards are ignored like he stop streetsin St.Fraccis Bay.