Having always dreamed of becoming an Egyptologist, Mr Adeel Vorajee found himself in a situation that changed everything.
A friend of his sustained severe injuries and no one around him could help – as none of them at that time, were medically trained.
“I felt so helpless and that was the day I made a promise to myself that the next time I would be the one who would assist,” Mr Vorajee said.
He completed his studies with Netcare nine years ago and has since managed to help many people from all walks of life.
He received a warm welcome from residents when he recently became a member of the Ermelo community as an ER24 intermediate life support paramedic.
A promise made was a promise kept.
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Not only does he save lives, but during his time as a medic he has delivered 178 babies.
He is fond of children and said it has been a privilege to assisit in bringing so many babies into the world.
“Being a family man there is always uncertainty when being dispatched to an emergency.
“Each time I kiss my wife and daughter goodbye before I go out,” he said.
Apart from the common risks involved in being a paramedic, he feels like paramedics have drawn the short straw as frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Paramedics are the first line of contact most of the time,” he said.
“Yes, we take precautions, but the risk is always there and you never really know what you have been exposed to until your test results come back,” Mr Vorajee said.