Mother of four Kylie Ashcroft died despite heroic efforts of beachgoers after inflatable raft tragedy at Aldinga
A WOMAN who drowned at Aldinga despite the heroic efforts of beachgoers was a beloved mother of four young children.
A WOMAN who drowned at Aldinga despite the heroic efforts of beachgoers was a beloved mother of four young children.
Kylie Ashcroft, 28, was pulled from the water about 7pm Thursday after she had drifted away from the shore aboard an inflatable raft.
Ms Ashcroft could not be revived after being helped to shore by other people, including a kayaker.
Witnesses said Ms Ashcroft was among a group of people on the inflatable raft, which was pushed offshore in southeasterly winds.
Witness Veronica Lowe said she saw a woman try to aid the drowning victim by reaching out to pull her from the water because she looked to be in “backstroke distress”.
Two men in kayaks also paddled over to help but it was too late to save Ms Ashcroft.
Father-of-five Darrell, who did not want his surname published, said he was one of the first on the scene when two male kayakers brought the woman ashore.
Darrell returned to the scene this morning to help “process” what he had seen.
“I saw these guys towing an inflatable, the woman was on it but she wasn’t responsive,” Darrell said.
“I just did basic CPR but there were lots of people rendering assistance. Then a nurse, I think she must have been a trauma nurse, came up and helped.
“People were standing back and taking turns until police and ambulance officers arrived.”
Darrell, 52, who has been swimming at the beach for 17 years, said the surf was calm with a moderate breeze when the tragedy occurred.
Two helicopters, numerous ambulances and police swarmed upon the beach after there were initial fears a number of people were stranded in deep water.
Witness Rebecca, who did not reveal her last name, said: “When they pulled her back in (to shore), the younger woman was yelling ‘someone help my sister’ ... everyone rushed to grab on the inflatable and pulled them in.”
It is believed Ms Ashcroft’s partner was on shore at the time with a group of children.
Surf Lifesaving South Australia operations officer Ben Laurenson said the details of the tragic incident were initially unclear.
However, Mr Laurenson said surf lifesaving volunteers had already rescued at least two other people who were adrift on inflatable rafts so far this summer.
“We have responded to a couple of similar incidents this summer and have rescued some people from similar situations,” Mr Laurenson said.
“We would warn people to exercise extreme caution when they are in the water, no matter what they are doing and to swim between the flags.”
