Community rallies behind Facebook plea for help
The power of Facebook, helped a Drummond resident get medical help.
With no transport, bad phone signal and a lack of help from the Durban Ambulance Services, Drummond resident, Leroy Wallace, turned to the power of Facebook for assistance.
On the evening of Monday, 8 June, his wife, Zandra, had tried to prevent a dog fight between their new German Shepherd and one of their other dogs and was bitten on the arm and leg while trying to separate the dogs.
He phoned the Emergency Helpline at 5.40pm, and was still waiting for a response when in desperation he posted on the Upper Highway Community Page – Let’s Help Each Other for help.
Less than two seconds later, Winston Park resident, Barbara Middleborough, saw his post and reached out to him.
“At first I thought it might be a hoax, but I phoned him to see if I could help. There was terrible reception and I was imaging how frantic he must be trying to help his wife. I have faith in SACan, which have helped me before in another situation, and they were absolutely brilliant. It is so reassuring to get an immediate response and have them care, especially as I was sending them to somewhere I didn’t even know.”
She couldn’t get hold of Wallace but was able to reply to his post: “I have phoned SACan, they will contact you,” to reassure him that he would be getting help.
SACan contacted Shannon Charles from VEMA and Konrad Jones from Netcare 911. Jones sent Elkanna Matthew (Netcare 911 rapid response vehicle) and an ambulance. Charles and Matthew provided medical assistance and before the ambulance transported Zandra to RK Khan hospital for further treatment.
Wallace was fill of praise for Barbara, SACan and the medical services that helped. “After Barbara had phoned me, SACan phoned me five minutes later and help was on scene 15 minutes later, treating my wife. It was the quickest response I had ever seen.”
It was 6.28pm before the Durban Ambulance Services called Wallace back to tell him that he must contact their Pietermaritzburg branch as he didn’t fall under their area.
“I know some people got upset with me posting on FB, thinking it was a hoax, but I was in a state and had nowhere else to turn. It was so nice to see that in South Africa a community is still standing together to help one another,” said Wallace.
Middleborough concurred, “I did my bit as part of the community and am glad that it all worked out.”
Zandra was released from hospital on the evening of Tuesday, 9 June. Middleborough helped transport them home.
