Tragic drownings and heroic rescues: a weekend of sorrow and bravery on the KZN South Coast

Lifesaving South Africa has extended its heartfelt condolences to the families grieving the loss of their loved ones over the weekend, following a series of tragic drowning incidents at beaches and severe flooding on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast.

On Saturday, 20 December 2025, lifeguards recovered the body of a 17-year-old boy who had been swept away on Umdloti Beach three days earlier. The young man, whose identity has been confirmed by his family, was handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation. Meanwhile, hopes are dimming for the two youngsters who went missing at a Wild Coast beach in the former Transkei. Both of these unfortunate occurrences took place at non-bathing and unguarded beaches, emphasizing the risks posed by such locations.

The escalating pattern of fatal drownings has been exacerbated by recent flooding, particularly in isolated inland areas and waterways. Sunday evening, 21 December, witnessed severe flooding across the KZN South Coast, leading to additional drowning incidents and reports of missing persons. By midday on 22 December, Lifesaving South Africa had confirmed at least two fatalities directly linked to these flood events in the Lower South Coast area.

On the same day, emergency services, including Police Search and Rescue teams, were engaged in the search for three individuals whose vehicle was swept away in Amanzimtoti during the flooding. The tragic circumstances have placed significant strains on emergency services as they respond to multiple incidents, including the recovery of bodies from rivers in Gauteng, with further details pending from SAPS regarding these cases.

Amidst this grim situation, a success story emerged on the same day when volunteer lifesavers at Fish Hoek Beach executed a heroic rescue. A 10-year-old child caught in a rip current was swept out to sea, and an adult family friend who attempted to assist also found themselves in danger. Responding swiftly, lifeguards equipped with Rescue Tube Buoys (RTBs) swam out to reach both individuals before they submerged, successfully bringing them back to shore. The pair was subsequently assessed and advised to seek further medical evaluation at a local hospital.

Dhaya Sewduth, Media Director of Lifesaving South Africa, commended the duty squad at Fish Hoek Beach—Amber van der Byl, Kate Becker, Rogan Krog, and Nikolas Balden—for their prompt and decisive actions that saved lives. Sewduth underscored the importance of swimming only in areas patrolled by lifeguards and within designated hours, noting that entering unmonitored waters poses an unnecessary risk to safety.