A 77-year-old man was stuck in a trench in Umhlanga Rocks for over an hour on Wednesday night, before rescue services came to his aid.
It is believed the man accidentally stepped into the trench, which had recently been excavated by construction workers, while walking along Lagoon Drive.
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The elderly man sustained moderate injuries after falling six meters down the trench.
“A call was made for the assistance of the South African Police Services Search and Rescue unit, as well as the Ethekwini Fire and Rescue Services,” said Kyle van Reenen of Crisis Medical.
Paramedics then used an “intricate rope system” to descend into the trench and assist the man.
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“Intermediate Life Support intervention was needed to stabilize him, before he was placed onto a specialized stretcher for the care and prevention of spinal cord injuries.”
“A joint effort between all services then saw the man delicately hoisted to the roadway where he was transported by a Crisis Medical ambulance to a nearby hospital for immediate definitive care,” added Van Reenen.
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