The South African Rescue Services (SRU) revealed on Tuesday that two tourists from Singapore died tragically when their kayak capsized during a rafting trip on the Crocodile River near the Hartbeespoort Dam, 40km from Pretoria.
Arthur Crewe of the SRU’s Strategic Response Unit said that the two tourists were among 20 boats that had left early on Sunday for a rafting trip, noting that the Unit had received an emergency call about a drowning in the Crocodile River near the Lion & Safari Park.
As such, Mr. Crewe explained that the rescue team rushed to the scene, and found that one of the kayaks had problems, got caught in the weir, and capsized, adding that three other boats had problems and collided and also capsized.
Mr Crewe also explained that the tourist guides jumped into the river to rescue the tourists, while waiting for the rescuers to arrive. “Six people were rescued from the water, but unfortunately two others died”, he lamented.
It should be noted that the Hartbeespoort police have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.