Taxi driver rescues duck family on N1
FOURWAYS – A family of ducks found themselves trapped on the N1, here is their story.
A family of ducks was saved from injury after they became trapped on the N1 north on 14 November at night.
A motorist approached one of Emer-G-Med Advanced Life Support paramedics who was on standby at the BP petrol station at Montecasino. The motorist was in tears as they explained to the medic that a family of ducks had been trapped in the fast lane of the N1 north, just before the William Nicol Drive off-ramp.
Unfortunately, before the medic could do anything to help, the ambulance was dispatched to a motor collision, but the medic called into Emer-G-Med’s centre for assistance. Another vehicle crewed by Intermediate Life Support medic Max Cohen was sent to the scene.
When Cohen arrived, he found that a taxi driver, Leonard Tshabalala had stopped in the emergency lane and was desperately running around trying to keep the ducks – a mother, father and five ducklings – out of harm’s way. Tshabalala had managed to contain them on the far right shoulder of the highway.
Cohen stopped traffic and assisted Tshabalala in herding the family of ducks off of the highway. Each duck was lifted over the road’s barrier and waddled happily to the river below.
“Emer-G-Med paramedics are there when any life is in danger,” Cohen said of the happy ending.
