Community mourns the loss of north Durban stalwart
The 34-year-old passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Friday morning.
TRIBUTES have begun pouring in for north Durban community stalwart, Neil Powell. The 34-year-old passed away peacefully in his sleep in hospital in the early hours of this morning. Powell, was a member of the Durban North/uMhlanga CPF as well as the Crisis Team. He was also a paramedic and the founder of Crisis Medical.
His longtime friend and colleague, Mary Knox, said the news was devastating.
“He was always keen to help in any way he could. His heart and passion was the community. He made such a mark on a community. I am so proud to have been a part of his journey. He taught me so much. I will always treasure all our wonderful memories and will carry them in my heart always,” Knox said.
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Kyle van Reenen, who worked with Powell said it was with a heavy heart he heard about the news.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family friends and loved ones. Neil was passionate about helping others and a true stalwart of the Durban North and greater EMS Community. He was a friend and a brother to us all. He will be sadly missed,” he said.
Chairman of the Durban North/Umhlanga CPF Haden Searles, said he was going to miss Neil’s infectious smile.
“He really had a passion for the community. He made an impact in so many peoples’ lives. What I’ll miss the most is his smile, I never saw him angry. He was always smiling. He was a gentle soul right up to the very end. The one story that epitomises his community spirit was we were driving back from a CPF meeting. He heard about a pedestrian accident on North Coast Road and asked if he could attend to the victim. We helped direct traffic while he stabilised the patient. He was always willing to go the extra mile. We are going to miss him, it’s an incredibly sad day for the north Durban community,” Searles said.
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Former Durban North ward councillor and business partner of Powell’s, Dean Macpherson added his voice to the tributes. Macpherson said he was blown away by Powell’s enthusiasm for helping others.
“Neil quickly gained a reputation for being the first man at every accident and incident in Durban North and Umhlanga, due to his rapid driving and response skills. This skill allowed Neil to save countless lives, young and old. He was a true hero in every sense of the word. His love for people and his dedication to our special community will be sorely missed. He leaves a massive vacuum which will not be easily filled but offers us a beacon to guide our lives towards where we puts others first. I personally will miss my friend and business partner and am so proud of what this superman achieved during his short life. He truly made every second count,” he said.
The Mount Edgecombe resident’s birthday would have been on 30 June.
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