Seven-year-old drowns in KwaZulu-Natal river while swimming

A seven-year-old boy drowned in a KwaZulu-Natal river. Facebook profile for Reaction Unit South Africa

Thursday, January 12th, emergency personnel arrived to Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal, where a seven-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a river flowing to Hazelmere Dam.

Boy drowns; family was unaware he had left to go swimming.

Relatives of the youngster told members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) that they were unaware that he and 20 others had gone swimming in an area of the river designated for sand mining.

Both adults and children were present for the event. According to reports, the child had difficulty swimming in deep water.

The RUSA R44 helicopter performeds a river search from the air. Later, the boy’s body was discovered.

Additionally, a missing five-year-old was found dead in a neighbor’s pool.

Due to the frequency of drowning events near swimming pools, Arrive Alive provides the following swimming pool safety advice.

When infants or toddlers are in or near water, an adult must be within arm’s reach to give active supervision.

When children are near water, parents should give them their complete attention and avoid distractions!
Even skilled swimmers require adult supervision. Children who cannot swim should be supplied with life vests.

Parents should not only supervise their children, but also instruct them on pool safety.

Running on slippery surfaces endangers everyone nearby. Someone could injure oneself by falling into the pool, pushing a smaller child into the water, or slipping on the slippery pool deck.

Avoid sewers, water intakes, and filters. These constructions can become entangled with a child’s hair or clothing, trapping them underwater.

Remove all pool toys; do not leave them in the water. A young toddler may fall into the water while attempting to collect a toy.