Firefighter shot while responding to call in Germiston

A female firefighter was caught in a crossfire while waiting for forensic pathologists to remove a body.


An on-duty firefighter sustained injuries after being shot while attending to an injured patient last weekend in Dukathole, Germiston, reports Germiston City News.

Rescue crews from Germiston Central Fire Station received a call at about 9.30pm last Saturday night, and upon their arrival in Dukathole, a man was found lying on the road.

He was declared dead by paramedics.

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While waiting for a law enforcement unit and other relevant stakeholders to arrive on scene, a security guard from a nearby company approached the firefighting team and alerted them to another patient who was lying in an open piece of land nearby.

William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, said: “Upon their arrival on the second scene, rescue crews, accompanied by police officers, initiated pre-hospital medical treatment on the patient.

“Unfortunately the patient, who had multiple wounds, was also declared dead on the scene by the paramedics.”

The crew then waited for forensic pathologists to come and remove the body and while they were waiting, a group of men approached them.

“The men started shooting randomly in the direction of the officials and a female firefighter sustained a gunshot wound.

“The alleged perpetrators disappeared into the darkness of the informal settlement.”

Extra resources were summoned to the scene and treatment was given to the injured firefighter before she was transported to Netcare Union Hospital in Alberton, where she was admitted and given medical care.

The motive of the shooting is still undetermined and is under investigation.

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