Shark spotters saved an elderly woman from near drowning at Muizenberg beach after she was found floating face down at the water’s edge, the City of Cape Town said on Tuesday.

In a statement, mayoral committee member for energy, environmental and spatial planning Councillor Johan van der Merwe said the incident occurred at 08:43 on Monday.

“It appeared as if the person was deceased, but on retrieval, the shark spotters found… the person… was still alive, but unconscious. Two of [them] have level three first-aid training and immediately set to work stabilising the patient, checking her breathing and putting her in the recovery position.

“She was carried to the information centre where the shark spotters continued monitoring and attending to her until the Cape Medical Response Group arrived,” he said.

Van der Merwe said according to paramedics, it was believed the woman suffered a heart attack while walking on the beach. She was taken to Groote Schuur Hospital. News24