Update: Little girl drowns in lagoon
Knysna mourns the seemingly unnecessary death of yet another child. The circumstances surrounding the apparent drowning at the Green Hole, Leisure Isle of the eight-year-old Naledi Ncaza of Joodsekam pare still being investigated.
The tragedy has, however once again brought pressure on authorities to enforce Knysna Municiapal bylaws which forbid the public consumption of alcohol, notoriously ignored at by those picnicking at the Green Hole, especially during the warm season.
Ncaza’s body was found drifting face downward in the outgoing tide by local adventure tour guide and water sportsman, Tony Cook, as he was paddling on his stand-up paddleboard at about 16:30 on Sunday, November 3.
“I had just finished chatting to a friend, Susan Kotze and her son, Paul, who were out on a rubberduck and was paddling away from them back in the direction of the Northern-most end of Leisure Isle, when I noticed something odd bobbing in the water in the out,” recalls Cook, who is still stunned by what he had witnessed.
“At first I thought it might be a seal or an otter, but the moment I realised it was a little girl in a black bathing suit I jumped off my board into the water to get hold of her.”
Cook, who was trained as a medic in the army and as field guide, immediately lifted her limp body onto his paddleboard and began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He also motioned frantically to the Kotzes that he needed help.
“We first noticed someone at Leisure Isle’s edge waving, but we couldn’t hear anything because of the rubberduck’s engine and then Tony, who was also some distance away from us by then, began shouting and motioning to us,” explains Susan Kotze.
When Kotze realised that Cook had snatched a person from the current, she jumped off the rubberduck fully clothed to assist him.”It was pure horror! The one moment we were all enjoying a beautiful afternoon and the next moment there was this tiny person with froth coming out of her mouth – I don’t think we will ever forget that image!” she says. “At that stage we had no idea how long she had been in the water. It wasn’t very deep, only about waist-high, but the tide can be very deceptive; sometimes it’s as if someone has just pulled the plug in a giant bathtub and the water sucks back to the ocean. We were still hopeful that she could be saved!”
As they were struggling to keep her on the paddling board and attempting to resuscitate her, the tide was pulling them back towards The Heads and further away from the island. Thirteen-year-old Paul took the rubberduck and went to fetch help.
“I really want to commend him. He stayed perfectly calm and just did what he had to do,” comments Cook on the young Kotze’s actions.
When Paul returned with help, they lifted Ncaza onto the rubberduck and rushed ashore where Graeme Harding of NSRI Knysna was already waiting.
According to the provincial police spokesperson, Captain Malcolm Pojie, Ncaza is from the Eastern Cape where her mother lives but she attends Stepping Stones School in Knysna with her cousin.
“Community members spotted the child as she was floating on the water past most of the other kids who were playing in water, but they did not suspect anything wrong as her arms were moving,” reports Pojie. “Eventually someone became suspicious when the girl floated deeper out of the immediate swimming area and he alerted authorities.”
Eyewitnesses on the scene said that no one in the crowd gathering at the water’s edge had actually gone into the water either looking for the child or trying to stop her from drifting off in the current. Nor did they attempt to help bring her body ashore.
“The smell of alcohol hung in the air and it seemed that just about every adult there was intoxicated,” said an eyewitness.
NSRI communication official, Craig Lambinon says that the NSRI Knysna medics and doctor, Dr Grant Trollip, initiated cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts on the child.
“An ER24 ambulance responded and the child was rushed to hospital while advanced life support CPR efforts continued but sadly, after further ongoing CPR attempts in hospital, she was declared deceased. Initially there was no sign of family or any people seeming to be associated to the child in the vicinity and the child remained unidentified, but it appears that people come forward to the police later claiming that they were with the child at the time.”
The police have opened an inquest docket for further investigation and an autopsy will be conducted later during the week to determine the possible cause of death.
Knysna’s acting municipal manager Bevan Ellman said law enforcement would be increased in public areas from this weekend, and roadblocks were being considered for the high season.
“Lifesavers will be on duty from December 1 to January 31. Signage, which indicates emergency numbers and warns against strong currents, will be erected shortly. We ask adults to not leave children unsupervised in the water, no matter how shallow or harmless the water may appear. We request citizens to not swim when drinking.”
Drunken behaviour and emergencies can be reported to 044 302 6551 during office hours and 044 302 8911 after hours. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) can be contacted on 044 384 0211.
* According to Stepping Stone School principal, Carrene Sands, Ncaza joined the school at the beginning of this year. Her class teacher, Claire Twaddle describes her as “a quiet little girl who was soft-spoken. She had the most beautiful smile that would light up anyone’s day. She displayed great tenacity, a strong sense of fairness and enjoyed being at school. She always gave of her best. Naledi thoroughly enjoyed sport and made a significant contribution to her mini-hockey team. We will all miss her sense of fun and friendship.”
Sands says that after the staff’s initial shock to the news, each class was informed in a way appropriate to their level of understanding.
A letter was sent out to the whole school to inform all the parents of the tragic event and each class teacher is monitoring their children to ensure that they have the correct intervention and support to deal with the situation. The Grade 2s have placed a memorial table at the entrance to the school.
“We are all deeply saddened by this tragic event and wish her family God’s peace as they prepare to say farewell to her. We shall miss Naledi’s exuberance, charm, her beautiful smile but most of all we will miss our special friend,” says Sands.
(The Knysna-Plett Herald have not been able to make contact with the deceased’s family for comment or funeral arrangements.)
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Source: Knysna-Plett Herald