Confirmed: Netcare 911 crash victims were en route to Hillcrest hospital
According to Netcare 911, the helicopter was en route to Hillcrest to transfer a critically ill patient.
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FIVE people, en route to Hillcrest to transfer a critically ill patient to the Netcare Millpark Hospital in Johannesburg, died in a helicopter crash near Bergville.
According to Netcare 911’s CEO, Dr Richard Friedland, the five people who died in the crash included Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, an anaesthetist; Dr Curnick Siyabonga Mahlangu, a cardiothoracic surgeon; Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse; Sinjin Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic and Mark Stoxreiter, the helicopter pilot.
Chopper down Colenso KZN. pic.twitter.com/fB0BK3Z1y6
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 21, 2021
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“We are shocked beyond words at the tragic loss of these healthcare heroes. The whole of Netcare falls silent as we bow our heads in tribute, respect, love and memory of our fallen colleagues and frontline heroes who have died in the line of duty,” said Friedland.
He confirmed that counselling has been offered to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased.
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While the cause of the accident is not yet known, Netcare said the incident is currently under investigation.
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