Kearsney learner hailed as hero
Jason Bashford thanked the retired paramedic who took turns with him to perform CPR on the woman.
KEARSNEY’S Grade 12 learner, Jason Bashford, who attempted to help a woman in her 40s after she was struck by a light motor vehicle on the M13 in Westville yesterday, has been hailed as a young hero.
Bashford said he and his dad were on their way home following an interview at Durban University of Technology when they drove past the accident scene.
“I saw a woman lying on the road and a whole lot of people around her taking photos with their cellphones. They said she had just been knocked down by a car but no one bothered to help her. My first instinct was to start CPR,” said Bashford.
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Halfway through the CPR, another woman, who claimed she was a retired paramedic, offered to help Bashford. She called the paramedics and both of them took turns to do sets of 30 compressions each until the paramedics arrived.
“When the paramedics arrived, they injected an adrenalin type of drug to help resuscitate her but the woman was unresponsive so they continued the CPR for another 15 minutes before declaring her dead,” said Bashford.
He said the woman was in her late 40s or early 50s and she had a bag of clothes with her when she attempted to cross the highway, which flew across the road when the car struck her.
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Bashford said although he did not save the woman, he trusted his gut and did his best to try and help her.
He also said that he was a little disappointed with the community members who surrounded the woman to take pictures instead of helping her.
“I just want to thank the retired paramedic who also came to help. I wish there was more people like her around. I didn’t get her name as I had to rush off but I thank you for being there with me,” said Bashford.
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