News24.com | Girl, 10, drowns at Wilderness beach after being caught in rip currents

A 10-year-old girl drowned at Wilderness beach in the Western Cape.

A 10-year-old girl has drowned at Wilderness beach in the Western Cape, while two of her relatives were rescued from rip currents.

On Tuesday afternoon, lifeguards at the Wilderness Main Beach responded after three family members from George were caught in rip currents, said National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Wilderness station commander Mike Vonk.

He said lifeguards rescued a teenage boy from the mid-surf breakers and brought him safely to shore, uninjured.

They also reached a 16-year-old girl and a 10-year-old girl in the mid-surf breakers. Both were unresponsive, said Vonk.

READ | Boy, 16, drowns while another teenager goes missing at sea in Strand

The 10-year-old girl was rescued and brought to the beach, while NSRI rescue swimmers and a member of the public assisted the lifeguards in bringing the teenager out of the water.

After extensive efforts to resuscitate the 10-year-old girl, she was declared dead.

On shore, the teenager was revived by lifeguards and NSRI medics.

"The 16-year-old was stabilised on the scene before being transported to hospital by EMS ambulance, in a serious but stable condition. 

"NSRI is informed that she is expected to fully recover in hospital in the care of doctors and nurses," said Vonk.

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