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Man tried to save British tourist Man tried to save British tourist
(about 1 hour later)
A hotel owner told how he tried to rescue a British tourist who was drowned while riding a horse on a beach in South Africa.A hotel owner told how he tried to rescue a British tourist who was drowned while riding a horse on a beach in South Africa.
Claire Jackson, from London, was washed away on Friday night as she crossed the Nxaxo River at Wavecrest, near Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. Claire Jackson, from London, was washed away on Friday night as she crossed the Nxaxo River at Wavecrest in the Eastern Cape region.
Two other women, one from South Africa and one from the UK, escaped unharmed.Two other women, one from South Africa and one from the UK, escaped unharmed.
Conrad Winterbach said he rushed to the women's aid as soon as his staff alerted him of the incident.Conrad Winterbach said he rushed to the women's aid as soon as his staff alerted him of the incident.
Mrs Jackson's, 36, body was recovered shortly after the accident.Mrs Jackson's, 36, body was recovered shortly after the accident.
Rescue attemptRescue attempt
Mr Winterbach said he was not able to reach the women at first.Mr Winterbach said he was not able to reach the women at first.
"I headed straight out to sea, but I didn't get far. I managed to turn the boat and get it close to the river mouth but couldn't get closer."I headed straight out to sea, but I didn't get far. I managed to turn the boat and get it close to the river mouth but couldn't get closer.
"I had to jump overboard and swim back pulling the boat. My staff helped me out," he said."I had to jump overboard and swim back pulling the boat. My staff helped me out," he said.
He said the other two women, named as Julie Gower - who had organised the riding trip - and Lindsey Tibbs, from the UK, were on the other side of the river, across a rocky reef.He said the other two women, named as Julie Gower - who had organised the riding trip - and Lindsey Tibbs, from the UK, were on the other side of the river, across a rocky reef.
"They shouted they had seen her in the surf from the rocks."They shouted they had seen her in the surf from the rocks.
"I swam to where they said but with the waves and the spray and it was getting dark, it was hard to see.""I swam to where they said but with the waves and the spray and it was getting dark, it was hard to see."
'Swollen river''Swollen river'
He was cut badly trying to scramble over the rocks and had to give up attempts to rescue Mrs Jackson, he said.He was cut badly trying to scramble over the rocks and had to give up attempts to rescue Mrs Jackson, he said.
Soon after Mrs Jackson's body was washed up to the shore and efforts to revive her failed.Soon after Mrs Jackson's body was washed up to the shore and efforts to revive her failed.
Mr Winterbach said the two British tourists stayed at his hotel a night before the accident.Mr Winterbach said the two British tourists stayed at his hotel a night before the accident.
The river was said to be unusually swollen after two days of rain.The river was said to be unusually swollen after two days of rain.
"That day there was an unusually high outgoing tide and the river bed was an awful lot deeper than it normally is."That day there was an unusually high outgoing tide and the river bed was an awful lot deeper than it normally is.
"There were a lot of peculiarities, like an unusual outgoing Equinox Spring tide," said Mr Winterbach."There were a lot of peculiarities, like an unusual outgoing Equinox Spring tide," said Mr Winterbach.