Exclusive – WATCH: Heroic teenager speaks about saving lives at the cement-truck accident scene
“Without hesitation I grabbed the nearest medical bag, and my mom and I rushed to the accident scene,” she said.
Crawford International Ruimsig (Maragon) Grade 11 learner Tyler Armitage is living proof that not all heroes wear capes, and that dynamite does come in small packages.
The 16-year-old overcame her fears and assisted at the chaotic cement-truck accident on Doreen Road on Tuesday afternoon, 25 February where a total of 17 cars were severely damaged and at least seven people were injured, including a nine-year-old boy.
Read the initial article here:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/317308/videos-cement-truck-ploughs-15-vehicles-doreen-road-ruimsig/
Tyler has become a heroine overnight following her intervention at the scene, thanks to her First Aid Level 3 knowledge and bravery.
Speaking about her involvement at the accident scene, she said her mother, Rose, who is a teacher at her school, received a phone call from one of her colleagues who was involved in the crash.
“Without hesitation I grabbed the nearest medical bag, and my mom and I rushed to the accident scene,” she said.
Like the majority of the people who heard about the accident, Tyler said she underestimated the severity of the accident.
Read more:
https://roodepoortnorthsider.co.za/317388/doreen-road-crash-truck-driver-behind-bars/
“When I got out of the car I saw that many people had been injured. Many of the injured pedestrians rushed to me for help as I was one of the first people to arrive at the scene,” she explained.
She realised that the situation required her to show the heart of a lioness and provide help where she was needed the most. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to help everybody, but I assessed the scene and triaged.
“I immediately went to a man who was trapped in his car with blood gushing from his head. An off-duty paramedic arrived and bandaged his head. I then jumped into the back seat and supported the man’s neck and head,” she relived the scene.
She went on to explain that the man was in agony and shock. However, she tried to calm him and distract him from the situation while supporting his neck.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
“When paramedics arrived, I asked if they would like to take over; however, they instructed me to stay where I was and support the man’s neck. Then the fire department arrived. They took over to extricate the injured man from the car,” she detailed the ordeal.
When she asked about the man’s condition, the Northsider did not have full information about any of the patients; however, we assured her that no fatalities were reported following the accident – an update which gave her some relief.
While she deserves the status of heroine, Tyler was grateful to her school for providing her with the much-needed First Aid training.
“On behalf of the community I would like to thank the paramedics, fire department and everyone else involved in assisting at the accident scene,” a humble Tyler said.
