Vaal Teenager Dies Trying To Save His Friend From Drowning, SA Horrified

• A teenager from Sonderwater in Sebokeng, Emfuleni, lost his life after trying to save his friend from drowning
• The boy's mother reported her son missing on 13 January after she heard that he had drowned
• South Africans commenting on the incident mourned the death and hailed him as a hero for saving his other friends

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather and natural disaster-related incidents at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

SEBOKENG, EMFULENI — A teenager from Sonderwater in Sebokeng, Emfuleni, died after saving his friend from drowning during a fishing trip. His body was found on 15 January 2025.

How did the boy drown?

According to Vaal Journal, one of his friends reported that they were fishing when one of them fell into the stream and drowned. The victim jumped into the stream and pulled his friends out. However, he slipped into the water when he tried to get back on the banks.

Read also

Elderly couple survives brutal attack from robbery in Plettenberg Bay, SA worried

His mother reported him missing on 13 January, and the South African Police Service conducted a search and rescue operation. It continued until 15 January, and his body was found outside of Boitumelo. The Emergency Management Services declared him dead. The police are investigating an inquest docket.

Similar drowning incidents

• A man and a woman died in two separate drowning incidents on the South Coast in November 2024
• A two-year-old boy reportedly drowned in a residential pool in KwaZulu-Natal in the same month
• Two people drowned in Gqeberha in December over the space of two days in two separate incidents

South Africans heartbroken

Netizens commenting on Facebook were devastated by the incident.

Caroline Gxaleka said:

"No parent deserves to lose their child. May his soul rest in peace."

Celia Kgampela said:

"He's a hero. Condolences to his mum."

Nthatisi Mosia said:

"Condolences to the family of the hero."

Read also

Limpopo man arrested for killing 14-month-old baby escapes from hospital

Mamitjie Emily said:

"It's painful. May his soul find peace, and I hope the family heals from the pain of losing him."

Mamani Zazah Dhlamiji said:

"As painful as it is, he died a hero."

5 Gauteng pupils die in separate drowning incidents

In a related article, Briefly News reported that five pupils from different Gauteng schools died in August last year from drowning. The learners were from Greenside High School, Tsakane Secondary School and Evaton Primary School.

Divers discovered the body of Greenside High's head boy after drowning. His body was swept away by the current while trying to recover a fishing box in the water. South Africans were heartbroken.

Source: Briefly News