Three children drown in Mossel Bay

Two boys and a girl drowned at Dias beach in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, on Sunday, the National Sea Rescue Institue said.

The NSRI dispatched rescue swimmers and launched a rescue boat to the beach following reports of a drowning in progress around 2.30pm, said spokesman Craig Lambinon in a statement.

Police, provincial emergency services, and ER24 also responded.

"On arrival on-scene it was found that three children, two boys and a girl, believed to be aged approximately 14-years-old and believed to all be friends from Mossel Bay, had been swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming."

An unknown woman had rescued the girl from the water and had commenced CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) but paramedics declared the girl dead.

"The police boat had located and recovered the bodies of both of the boys from the water but both had succumbed to drowning and were both declared deceased by paramedics," he said.

"The bodies of the three teenagers have been taken into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and police have opened an inquest docket."

Family who were on the scene were being supported by police trauma counsellors.