Helpmekaar College FB
A 16-year-old teenager from Germiston drowned after he and his father were swept out to sea while fishing at Fransmanshoek Conservancy at Vlees Baai on the Garden Route.
The National Sea Rescue Institute at Mossel Bay was activated on Tuesday following reports of a drowning in progress.
Duty coxswain, Andre’ Fraser said rescue swimmers were dispatched to respond directly to the scene while the NSRI rescue craft St Blaise Rescuer was launched.
“Our NSRI rescue vehicle towed the NSRI rescue craft Rescue 15 Bravo to the scene which was launched on-site. The SA Police Services, Police Sea Borderline Control, and WC Government Health EMS responded,” he said.
Fraser said a 47-year-old man and his 16-year-old son had been swept off rocks into the sea while fishing from the shoreline.
He said the search the father was located coming out of the water along the shoreline and he was taken into the care of NSRI and SAPS while a search continued for the teenager.
“During the ongoing search the teenager was located in the water in a gulley close inshore and he was recovered from the water but sadly he was declared deceased by paramedics. An inquest docket has been opened by police.
Fraser said the Germiston family was due to return home from their holiday on Wednesday.
In a message on its Facebook page, Helpmekaar College said it was devastated by the death of Christopher Barnard who was reportedly a Grade 10 learner.
