Renthia Kaimbi
Certified lifeguards from Monarch Lifeguard and Emergency Services have withdrawn from Platz am Meer and Mole Beach in Swakopmund following the end of their contract with the municipality.
Monarch founder Muyenga Martin said the contract ran from 05 December 2025 to 05 January 2026 and has now come to an end. He said the period was short but demanding.
Martin said the team focused on preventative lifeguarding, supported by trained professionals on constant watch.
He said routine rescues were limited, but several serious incidents showed how dangerous the coastline can be.
In one incident, the lifeguards responded to a double drowning involving two teenagers who were swimming in a non-designated area.
“Without our expertise, this tragedy could have claimed not just victims but rescuers too,” Martin said.
Both teenagers were pulled from the water. One later died after being taken to hospital.
“Our hearts ache for the family and friends left behind,” he said.
Another incident occurred in Henties Bay, where the team was alerted to a water rescue. Martin said the distance made it impossible for them to arrive in time.
“Minutes later, news arrived of a hero’s drowning, a gut-wrenching loss that hit us hard,” he said.
Martin recounted instances where they saved lives. When a tourist vehicle was swept into the Uis River, the team guided bystanders by phone, which helped rescue all five occupants.
He said the team was also involved in the search for a missing three-year-old boy at Langstrand. After several hours, the child was found safe.
Reflecting on the month-long operation, Martin called for stronger national efforts in water safety and rescue readiness.
“These stories of valour, loss and narrow escapes demand that we unite as a nation. It’s time to reignite our commitment to disaster preparedness, especially in water rescue and drowning prevention,” he told the Windhoek Observer.
He stressed that public awareness is key to preventing future tragedies.
“The public must learn to respect water bodies… water safety awareness education and drowning prevention is a shared responsibility for all communities,” Martin said.
He also said Monarch remains committed to training young people and building skills in water safety.
“Every year we call in unemployed youths, we train them, and we work with those who pass the training,” he said.
