A 16 year old school girl from Welkom suffers near drowning symptoms after her canoe overturned at Port Edward beach. It is believed that the girl is on tour with her school from Welkom. They were playing in the sea at Port Edward beach when the canoe overturned and the girl went under the water. She managed to get out but collapsed on the sand.
Netcare 911 paramedics were called to assist. When they arrived the NSRI and Ubuntu lifeguards were treating the schoolgirl. She was then stabilised by the paramedics and transported to the Netcare Margate Hospital in a stable condition for observation.
Paramedics are pleading with the public with the start of a holliday season at the coast to take care and only swim at beaches that are protected by the lifeguards.
Chris Botha
Netcare 911