A day of swimming fun for a group of boys in the Free State ended in tragedy. The SAPS confirmed that two brothers from Bronville, aged five and seven respectively, drowned in a dam.
SAPS has cited a witness who says five-year-old, Nadio Pienaar had been swimming in the deeper side of the dam and needed help which prompted his brother, Marshall to come to his rescue.
“On the 8 January 2022 at 17:42 a group of boys from Bronville went to a mine dam to swim. According an eyewitness, one of them, a 5-year-old boy moved to a deeper side of the dam and struggled to come out. His older brother, who is 7-years-old tried to rescue him but both of them disappeared and drowned,” said SAPS Free State spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng.
Authorities were only alerted of the incident on Sunday morning.
“The incident was reported the following day on the 9 January 2022 at 08:30. The SAPS Diving Unit under the leadership of Lt Col. Conrad Fouche visited the scene and managed to retrieve the two bodies. The next of kin were informed and the two brothers were identified as Nic – Nadio Pienaar (5) and Marshall Pienaar (7) residing in Peterson Street Bronville, Welkom,” said Thakeng.
The boys’ drowning will be the subject of an investigation regardless, as police in the Free State say they have opened an inquest docket into the incident.
“Children must refrain from swimming in places that are not safe and also parents must know the whereabouts of their children to avoid this disaster,” Thakeng further said.
Sources: MSN, Tribune South Africa
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