Two swept away in Hardap Dam outflow

A 29-year-old man from Mariental disappeared into the Fish River on Thursday afternoon when he dove into the outflow of the Hardap Dam and was swept away by the current.

According to witnesses the man, George Swartbooi, had been relaxing on a platform above the river with friends while the sluice gates were being opened, when he suddenly removed his T-shirt and dove into the water below. According to a security guard for Scorpion Security Services who saw the incident take place, as well as a Police source at Mariental, Swartbooi and his friends seemed to be intoxicated.Police at Mariental said yesterday that they had been circling the river throughout the weekend, but besides a few articles of clothing, found no trace of Swartbooi.The Namibian was unable to trace Swartbooi’s family for comment yesterday.Another man drowned in the Fish River near the Hardap Dam last week.According to a Police source at Mariental, the body of 33-year-old Cornelius Shaningu was discovered in the river on Friday.It is suspected that he had been fishing when the sluice gates were opened, and was overpowered by the force of the water.His family has been informed of his death, the source said.According to a security guard for Scorpion Security Services who saw the incident take place, as well as a Police source at Mariental, Swartbooi and his friends seemed to be intoxicated.Police at Mariental said yesterday that they had been circling the river throughout the weekend, but besides a few articles of clothing, found no trace of Swartbooi.The Namibian was unable to trace Swartbooi’s family for comment yesterday. Another man drowned in the Fish River near the Hardap Dam last week.According to a Police source at Mariental, the body of 33-year-old Cornelius Shaningu was discovered in the river on Friday.It is suspected that he had been fishing when the sluice gates were opened, and was overpowered by the force of the water.His family has been informed of his death, the source said.