After 2pm on Tuesday, City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers alerted the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Table Bay duty controller, Paula Leech, regarding a distress call. The call was made following an incident where a woman was swept off the rocks.
It is alleged that she was walking along the rocks when she was swept into the sea by a giant wave.
“On arrival on the scene sight of an adult female was seen drifting approximately 200 meters off-shore but sight of the female was lost in misty conditions with a heavy sea swell running,” Leech said.
“On the NSRI rescue craft arriving on the scene a sweeping line search commenced and during the sea search, approximately 500 meters off-shore in rough seas, the female was located and recovered from the water onto the NSRI rescue craft,” Leech said.
Following the incident, the woman was swiftly transported to the hospital. However, on Wednesday, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon provided an update stating that the woman's identity had been established, and the hospital staff successfully reached out to her family. Lambinon expressed condolences on behalf of all emergency services to the family and friends of the Sea Point mom who tragically passed away during the early hours of Wednesday, July 5.
He mentioned that the family was present by her side, and the hospital staff managed to locate them, likely through a necklace she was wearing when she arrived at the hospital under the care of paramedics.
Lambinon commended the dedicated efforts of the hospital staff, who worked tirelessly throughout the night in their attempt to save her life. He also expressed gratitude to the media for their assistance in locating the family. Respectfully, the family has requested privacy during this challenging time.