Four people were injured were injured, one man critically, when the vehicle they were travelling in left the M35 Umbumbulu Road and plummeted off a bridge this afternoon.
It is thought that the car had been headed away from the coast when it veered from the M35 on a bridge near Philani Village. The car pushed through the aluminium barrier and landed on its roof eight metres below.
Netcare911 Advanced Life Support Paramedic Mark Thomas, first at the scene, etched his way through thick brush to get to the wrecked car. He was treated and stabilised the injured men and then, with the help of police officers attending to the scene they carried the injured men to ambulances waiting at the roadside.
The critically injured man was airlifted by the Netcare3 Aeromedical Helicopter to an area hospital for further care, while the other men were transported by ambulance.
Less than a kilometre away a man was struck by a car while crossing the M35 near a local tavern. The man sustained significant head trauma, as well as multiple limb fractures.
He was treated and stabilised by Netcare911 Paramedics before being rushed to the Prince M’Shiyeni Memorial Hospital by ambulance.
The driver of the car was arrested for reckless and negligent driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Shortly afterwards an eight-year-old boy was critically injured when he was struck by a car while crossing the M37 Moss Kolnick Road, Amanzimtoti.
The boy sustained polytraumatic injuries and was intubated and placed on a manual ventilator by Netcare911 Advanced Life Support Paramedic Mark Thomas.
He was rushed by ambulance to the Prince M’Shiyeni Memorial Hospital where he died shortly after arrival.
Jeffrey Wicks
Netcare 911