Father dies during rescue attempt at Leentjiesklip Beach

A father has died after trying to rescue two teenagers caught in rip currents at Leentjiesklip Beach in Wilderness.

A father has died after entering dangerous rip currents to rescue his son and another teenager at Leentjiesklip Beach in Wilderness on Saturday afternoon. The second father and both boys were rescued and taken to hospital.

The National Sea Rescue Institute’s Wilderness crew was activated at 5.31pm after receiving reports of a drowning in progress. Station commander Jonathan Britton said both fathers had entered the water after the teenagers were caught in the rip currents.

According to NSRI Wilderness station commander Jonathan Britton, the two teenage boys had been caught in rip currents, prompting both fathers to enter the water to help their sons.

The families, who are friends, comprise a local man and his teenage son, and a German man and his teenage son.

NSRI rescue swimmers, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Western Cape Government Health EMS, ER24 ambulance services and George Fire and Rescue Service responded.

One of the teenagers, a 14-year-old German boy, managed to reach the beach without assistance. NSRI medics attended to him before he was handed over to paramedics.

An NSRI rescue swimmer entered the water to assist the two fathers and the remaining teenager, who were in difficulty in the surf zone. Two NSRI rescue craft, Ann Stratford and Oscars Rescuer, were also launched.

The German father and the local teenager were rescued and brought ashore. NSRI medics provided initial assistance before handing them over to paramedics.

The local father was found lifeless in the water by NSRI rescuers and brought to shore, where NSRI medics began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Paramedics joined the resuscitation efforts.

Despite extensive attempts to revive him, the man was declared dead after resuscitation efforts were exhausted.

His body was handed over to the police and Western Cape Government Health Forensic Pathology Services.

Britton said: “Despite extensive CPR efforts, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, sadly the man was declared deceased.”

Police have opened an inquest into the man's death.