Paramedic saves man from burning vehicle

A LOCAL paramedic was dubbed a hero by her peers when she risked her life to save a patient from a burning vehicle after a crash at the weekend.

According to Rescue Care’s operations director, Garrith Jamieson,   paramedic Nicola Bloem pulled a critically injured person who lying next to a burning vehicle from “certain death” after a taxi and a car collided at the intersection of Umgeni Road and Argyle Road around 6pm on Sunday evening.

“When Rescue Care medic Nicola Bloem arrived on scene she found that a taxi and a car had collided in the junction and the taxi had then burst into flames. Without regard to her own safety she quickly ran to the burning vehicle and found a man lying critically injured  just outside the vehicle. With Durban Fire Department en route Nicola knew the critically injured patient would be compromised and  refused to allow this person to suffer further injury. She pulled the patient to safety and started stabilising the man,” explained Jamieson.

More ambulances were called as well as Advanced Life Support pParamedics to assist with the chaotic scene. A total of eleven people had suffered various injuries ranging from moderate to critical. Once all the injured were stabilized, they were transported to hospital.

At this stage it is unclear what caused the collision however SAPS were on the scene and will be investigating further.