A teenager and two children drowned during a family boat cruise at the KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast on Saturday, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
The three, a 17-year-old boy and two girls, aged 8 and 3, were swept out to sea, when their boat capsized at the Shelly Beach near Port Shepstone early on Saturday, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.
“It was determined, while responding to the scene, that two adults, a husband and wife, were out of the water and not injured while the three children were reported missing in the lagoon.”
Lambinon said the boat, reportedly hired, capsized while the five were paddling on the lagoon.
“It is believed that the adult survivors are the parents of the two girls. It is also believed that the male teenager was a relative.
“During a scuba-dive search by the police search and rescue divers, the three missing persons were recovered and declared dead on the scene.”
Lambinon said all three bodies were found without life jackets and this would be investigated.
“The representative of the company that hired out the canoe, allegedly claimed that all five persons were wearing life jackets when it departed.”
Police opened an inquest docket.
– SAPA