A school sport tour turned into tragedy after two pupils drowned at the Eastern Beach on Saturday night.
The pupils, whose identities have not been published yet, were part of 200 pupils from Freemantle Boys High and Mount Arthur Girls High schools in Cacadu (formerly Lady Frere). They were in East London to take part in a sports tournament when they pleaded with their teachers to give them 10 minutes to swim at the famous beach, when the tragedy struck.
This was despite Buffalo City Metro (BCM) putting up notices, warning against swimming at some of the local beaches including Eastern Beach and Nahoon following a shark attack earlier on Saturday.
East London Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the East London Flying Squad members were patrolling at the beach at about 8pm when they were alerted to the drowning of the pupils.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) East London’s Geoff McGregor said they rushed to the scene with members of the SA police service’s K-9 search and rescue unit, the police dive unit and health emergency services.
“On arrival on the scene we found a large group of school learners, over 200 children and at least 19 teachers and carers. Two teenagers from the group, a male and a female, had already been recovered from the water and cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were commenced by paramedics but sadly despite their extensive efforts both were declared deceased,” said McGregor.
The incident has traumatised pupils, teachers and their respective communities alike, with one of the pupils who asked his name not be published, saying they bitterly regretted their decision to plead with the teachers to allow them to go for a swim.
“Some of the pupils had been swimming in the beach for the first time so we were really excited,” said the pupil.
The teachers instructed the pupils to only swim for 10 minutes, but when the whistle blew signaling an end of the 10 minutes, others defied the order and continued to swim.
“I do not know what exactly happened. I do not even know how I got out the water, but all I remember is seeing many police officers.
“The whistle blew for us a few times to go back to our transport but we did not listen and continued to swim. It was bad to end our visit to East London like that. Everyone on our way was quiet in the taxi and we are still shocked,” said the pupil.
McGregor said it was clear the two pupils were caught in rip currents. “Teachers and carers had, according to witness accounts, attempted to keep the learners from entering the water but some learners had gone into the surf before it is suspected that they were caught in rip currents,” added McGregor.
Police have opened an inquest docket and the bodies of the deceased have been taken to forensic pathology services.
Freemantle deputy principal Zamukulungisa Madotyeni said they had not yet received a full report on what happened.
“I am still trying to get the full details on what happened as I was not with the touring staff. When I spoke to the principal he said he was also waiting for the teachers who had accompanied the children to tell him how the children drowned,” added Madotyeni.
Attempts to get comment from the principal of the schools proved fruitless by the time of going to print.
Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima had not responded at the time of going to print yesterday.
School tour ends in tragedy
The pupils, whose identities have not been published yet, were part of 200 pupils from Freemantle Boys High and Mount Arthur Girls High schools in Cacadu (formerly Lady Frere). They were in East London to take part in a sports tournament when they pleaded with their teachers to give them 10 minutes to swim at the famous beach, when the tragedy struck.
This was despite Buffalo City Metro (BCM) putting up notices, warning against swimming at some of the local beaches including Eastern Beach and Nahoon following a shark attack earlier on Saturday.
East London Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the East London Flying Squad members were patrolling at the beach at about 8pm when they were alerted to the drowning of the pupils.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) East London’s Geoff McGregor said they rushed to the scene with members of the SA police service’s K-9 search and rescue unit, the police dive unit and health emergency services.
“On arrival on the scene we found a large group of school learners, over 200 children and at least 19 teachers and carers. Two teenagers from the group, a male and a female, had already been recovered from the water and cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts were commenced by paramedics but sadly despite their extensive efforts both were declared deceased,” said McGregor.
The incident has traumatised pupils, teachers and their respective communities alike, with one of the pupils who asked his name not be published, saying they bitterly regretted their decision to plead with the teachers to allow them to go for a swim.
“Some of the pupils had been swimming in the beach for the first time so we were really excited,” said the pupil.
The teachers instructed the pupils to only swim for 10 minutes, but when the whistle blew signaling an end of the 10 minutes, others defied the order and continued to swim.
“I do not know what exactly happened. I do not even know how I got out the water, but all I remember is seeing many police officers.
“The whistle blew for us a few times to go back to our transport but we did not listen and continued to swim. It was bad to end our visit to East London like that. Everyone on our way was quiet in the taxi and we are still shocked,” said the pupil.
McGregor said it was clear the two pupils were caught in rip currents. “Teachers and carers had, according to witness accounts, attempted to keep the learners from entering the water but some learners had gone into the surf before it is suspected that they were caught in rip currents,” added McGregor.
Police have opened an inquest docket and the bodies of the deceased have been taken to forensic pathology services.
Freemantle deputy principal Zamukulungisa Madotyeni said they had not yet received a full report on what happened.
“I am still trying to get the full details on what happened as I was not with the touring staff. When I spoke to the principal he said he was also waiting for the teachers who had accompanied the children to tell him how the children drowned,” added Madotyeni.
Attempts to get comment from the principal of the schools proved fruitless by the time of going to print.
Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima had not responded at the time of going to print yesterday.
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