Paramedics had their hands full this evening when a man jumped five meters off a bridge onto a railway in Durban. Allegedly the man, a male in his late twenties, was fleeing from the police when he jumped from the bridge at the crossing of Alice and Grey rd in the Durban CBD.
Local police services promptly contacted the EMS services to assist with the rescue as the terrain the suspect had fallen to meant that he could not be carried out conventionally. SAPS, ER24 and other rescue services worked together using specialized rope rescue equipment to lower paramedics down to the stranded suspect to asses and treat his injuries.
Paramedics battled the elements as harsh periods of heavy rain fell on the crews attempting to rescue the man.
Some time later the man was hoisted out of the uneven terrain on to the bridge and stabilized for transportation. The suspect had sustained significant injuries to his lower extremities due to the impact from the fall. Local police services will be investigating the incident.
Andre Visser
ER24