Member of public and disaster management volunteers save life of boy that dived from Harmony Park tidal pool wall

At approximately 16:49 today [Sunday, 23 December 2012] a male minor dived from the tidal pool wall at the Harmony Park Resort along the False Bay coastline.

Zain Daniels [25 years] that is a member of the public living in Strand noticed the boy in distress and it appeared as he was drowning where-after he recovered the minor from the water.

The volunteers of the Disaster Risk Management Centre that renders beach patrol duties were activated and responded to the incident.

The professional team of medical trained volunteers from Macassar determined that the boy sustained spinal injuries that include the cervical nerves, i.e. head and neck, diaphragm, deltoids and biceps.

The patient was treated for spinal cord injuries as the accident resulted in the possible damage to the cells of the vertebral cord that could result in loss of communication between the brain and the parts of the body below the injury.

The volunteers were further assisted with the stabilization of the patient by the Gordon’s Bay Private Ambulance Services.

An ambulance from the Western Cape Government: Department of Health [METRO Emergency Medical Services] transported the injured boy to the Helderberg Hospital [Hottentots-Holland Hospital] for further medical treatment.

The minor male, Nathaniel Martin [10 years], that resides in Strand were on an excursion with his parents to the resort.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre appeals to bathers not to dive from rocks and from the walls of swimming pools to avoid serious injuries.

End

Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town