National Sea Rescue Institute concerned over rise in drowning and distress incidents involving children

Renewed calls for child water safety have been made by the National Sea Rescue Institute, amid concerns over a rise in drowning and distress incidents involving children during the festive season.

NSRI Spokesperson Andrew Ingram has warned that drowning is often silent and can occur within seconds, urging parents and caregivers to closely supervise children around water.

The NSRI has raised concern following several child-related water incidents this festive season.

In the Eastern Cape, a 13-year-old boy from Mthatha went missing in the surf at hole-in-the-wall beach last week, despite extensive search efforts.

Earlier this week at Muizenberg Beach, two 18-year-old boys got into difficulty, one was rescued and taken to hospital, while the other remains missing after being swept away by a rip current.

On Saturday at Miller’s Point in Cape Town, two children, aged seven and eight, were rescued along with two adults.

The children fell off a flotation device, while the adults were pulled into a rip current trying to help.

Ingram said, "It's important to understand that drowning is silent. If you're not watching your children, you won't understand that they're in difficulty." 

The NSRI also advises that children should always be kept within arms’ length of their parents around water.