KZN priest drowns during late night prayer service

By Kaya 959 News

A priest died while conducting a prayer in La Mercy on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast on Sunday.

Private security and reaction company, Reaction Unit South Africa said tragedy struck at South Beach Road in the early hours of the morning.

RUSA spokesperson, Prem Balram, said a woman at the prayer contacted their emergency offices, just after 1am, informing them of the incident.

He said the woman told them that a prayer was conducted on the beach on Saturday evening, around 10pm.

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Priest swept out to sea

Balram said the woman told the emergency centre operator that the priest had been swept out to sea.

“RUSA officers and medics were dispatched to the location and met with a group of about 10 people who were at the service. They said they were conducting rituals on the shore when the 45-year-old Zionist priest entered the water. He was praying and in a crouched position when a large wave dragged him out to sea,” Balram said.

He said the members tried searching for the priest before contacting RUSA for assistance.

Balram said the priest’s wife informed officers that the prayer was supposed to be held in Ndwedwe but the priest had a premonition and was ‘guided to the beach by the Holy Spirit’.

Balram said the search was called off due to the darkness and resumed later when sunlight permitted. He said the priest’s body was later discovered at La Mercy Beach. The body was handed over to local police.

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Boy, 6, drowns in La Mercy Lagoon

Two weeks ago, the body of a six-year-old boy was found floating in the La Mercy Lagoon.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said emergency teams responded to reports of a drowning at the La Mercy Lagoon.

“On arrival, paramedics found the boy lying on the shore and a bystander was conducting CPR. The child had been spotted by bystanders and his body brought to the shore,” the NSRI said.

“A full advanced life support resuscitation was initiated by a Netcare 911 emergency care practitioner, however despite best efforts by all involved the child was sadly declared deceased on the scene,” said Shawn Herbst, media liaison for Netcare 911.

Father, son, and dog drown in same area

Earlier this year, a father, his son and their dog drowned at a beach in the same area.

News24 reported that the man and his two sons, aged 14 and 18, had been walking the family dog close to the shoreline when a wave swept over them.

The older boy managed to swim to safety but the father and 14-year-old were swept out, along with the dog.

The National Sea Rescue Institute reported the father was rescued by a doctor, who had been on holiday in the area and was at the beach. The father was later declared dead by paramedics. Meanwhile, the young boy’s body was spotted in the surfline at the backline breakers and rescue swimmers went out to retrieve his body.

According to reports, the 14-year-old’s body was recovered about 200-metres south of where he was spotted. He, too, was declared dead. The dog’s body was also recovered.

People are urged to swim in designated areas that are supervised by lifeguards.

Written by: Tamlyn

Priest drowns Priest drowns during prayer SA drownings