A homeless man was found unresponsive in his wheelchair in the parking area of a shopping centre in Wierdapark, Centurion, this morning.

Pretoria Rekord reports that, according to CERT-SA, its Centurion crew responded to a call at the shopping centre at about 08:00, where ‘an elderly homeless man was found unresponsive in his wheelchair in the parking area’.

The man had already passed away and was pronounced dead on the scene.

SAPS was called to the scene to open an inquest and assist to locate relatives or friends who may be able to identify the deceased.

“We would like to thank Scorpion Risk Services, Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd., and SAPS for their assistance and co-operation on the scene.

“This incident serves as an important reminder of the value of carrying some form of identification with you at all times.

“A driver’s licence or ID can assist emergency personnel in identifying you in the event of an emergency.”

Cert-SA said that it is also advisable to carry emergency contact details of a next of kin or close friend who can be notified in the event of an emergency.

“Many people make use of ‘In Case of Emergency’ bracelets, medical alert bracelets, identification cards or small information capsules that can be attached to a keychain or carried in a wallet.

“These simple measures can greatly assist emergency responders in ensuring that the correct people are contacted quickly when it matters most.”

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