Coast KZN

State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
Chapter 9: Governance Environment Chapter 10: Conclusions
The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

Ugu Lwethu- Our Coast Defining the Coastal Zone The Physical and Coastal Environment Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Coastal and Marine Species Migrations The Human Dimension Socio-Economic Uses of the Coast Commercial Resource Uses
Pressures and Threats Management of the Coastal and Marine Environments Understanding our Coast
Coastal access
Coastal access

Access RoutesBoat Launch SitesThe Human DimensionCoastal Access: Stats & Facts
Estuaries
Estuaries

What is an Estuary? Know your Estuaries Estuary Health and Conservation KZN Estuary Observer Programme
Historical Time Series Estuary Mouth Status Sand Mining
Recreation
Recreation

Fish TaggingAccess RoutesBlue Flag Beaches
Coastal risk and vulnerability
Coastal risk and vulnerability

Coastal Risk LinesExtreme EventsCoastal ErosionKZN Coastal Vulnerability IndexPollution
Coastal issues
Coastal issues

PollutionSand MiningCoastal ErosionNurdlesUPL Chemical Spill
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22 Jan 2018

Freak wave sweeps Gauteng couple’s daughter off Durban pier

Zainul Dawood (Daily News) Picture: Since Saturday waves were crashing higher up on the shoreline and the water flowed on to the promenade. (Photo: Rescue Care Paramedics)

“A Gauteng couple lost their 7-year-old daughter after a freak wave swept her off a pier and into rough seas at North Beach on Sunday.“

The mother, son and daughter were walking in the centre of North Pier when the tragedy unfolded.

The Durban coastline is experiencing a spring tide, when the water level and waves are much higher when the tide is coming in.

The pier is situated opposite North Beach police station, where Nadasen Koopasamy was standing when he heard people screaming.

“The waves were crashing over the side of the pier. This must have been a monster wave for it to pull the kid off it. I heard screams and people pointing into the waves. A man saw the girl in the surf and dived in to help, but the waves were too strong for him. He swam back to shore,” Koopasamy said.

By then lifeguards had gone into the water with rubber boats, he said, but could not reach the girl because of the swells. Koopasamy said lifeguards had to go further out to sea to let the waves carry them to her.

Rescue Care paramedics operations director Garrith Jamieson said lifeguards and a doctor tried to resuscitate the girl at the lifeguards’ towers, but she died. The parents were still in shock and unable to speak to the Daily News on Sunday night.

Since Saturday waves were crashing higher up on the shoreline and the water flowed on to the promenade. The piers, except for the Snake Park fishing pier, were closed to the public during the holiday period.

Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said an inquest docket had been opened at Durban Central SAPS.

Mike Bloxham, a fisherman, said the spring tide would peak on Wednesday. Bloxham said it would be dangerous for people along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, which could experience a backlash from the cyclone that passed through Madagascar.

 

Online Article