Dear Editor
Today in Durban, IFP’s Adv. Anthony Mitchell and Mr Ntsane Ntsane, witnessed a young woman convulsing on the ground in Smith street. They immediately stopped their vehicle and attended to the severely distressed woman.
Adv. Mitchell said that, “The lady was lying prone, convulsing and frothing at the mouth. She was clearly in need of immediate emergency medical treatment. I immediately logged calls to 10111 and 10177 and was advised each time that and ambulance would be dispatched. The First call was made at 08h27. No ambulance arrived despite their depot being only 1.2kms away. We also tried to flag an ambulance down that had driven past. The ambulance driver was not interested in stopping to assist this young woman.”
“Luckily, the Durban Metro Police then arrived on the scene. SGT Riaan Da Horta, who is also a trained rapid response paramedic, took charge and quite possibly saved this young lady’s life. Sgt Da Horta and his fellow officers were extremely professional and must be commended for their outstanding service.”
Provincial EMRS eventually arrived on the scene at 09h48, a delay of 1hr21 minutes.
IFP spokesperson on health, Ms Ncamisile Nkwanyana, MPL said, “This is shocking. Thank God we had IFP staff on the ground who were able to assist this lady. I will be taking this matter further with the MEC on Health and demanding answers as to the poor response time of EMRS.”
