Runner breaks leg on Ballito promenade
A woman fractured her leg after stepping in a hole on the promenade.
Dolphin Coast Striders runner, Harriet Kruger recently fell and fractured her right leg when she stepped in a hole while running in a group on the Ballito promenade.
Like most athletes with day jobs, Kruger and her friends run between 5am and 6am, which means running in the dark from late autumn to spring.
The accident happened at about 5.20am during a routine morning run with about five or six other women.
“I was busy running and the next thing I knew I was lying flat on the paving with a bleeding hand and elbow and a very sore leg,” said Kruger.
Ballito ward councillor, Colin Marsh said he has been highlighting the state of the promenade for a long time, requesting a revamp and proper maintenance.
He said it was the beach manager, Steve Honeysett and the KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) civils department’s job to inspect and maintain the promenade.
However, Honeysett said on Thursday that he was aware of the holes before Eaton Place and had submitted a request for repairs on three sections of the promenade where the bricks had collapsed a week ago.
KDM lifeguard supervisor, Bongani Xulu said they recently bought a small motorbike which Honeysett used to patrol the promenade twice a week.
He said it was part of their operations and because they had a lump sum claim before, they generally fixed damaged parts of the promenade quickly to prevent future claims.
Claims that people often get hurt on the promenade could not be confirmed by doctors or Xulu. Kruger wished to thank doctors Pillay and Baba and Kurt Bartsch for the role they played in her treatment.
