Voluntary paramedics snowed under by storm rescues

Voluntary Emergency Medical Assistance (VEMA) paramedics were run off their feet attending to hundreds of distress calls made in the wake of Tuesday’s #DurbanStorm.

“With so many calls coming in, we had to prioritise and deal with the more severe cases first,” said a VEMA paramedic.

“We dealt with a lot of flooding in Toti, Mobeni, Winklespruit and St Winifreds. Also, there were motor vehicles submerged in St Gabriel Road, where motorists were trapped. There were also lots of motor vehicles stranded on Kingsway. It was chaotic.

Fortunately we made it through from Mobeni to Toti before the N2 became submerged near the old airport.

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We still have calls coming through today (Wednesday). We have been going from house to house, business to business and community to community to make sure everyone is okay.

When Mother Nature deals us a blow like Tuesday’s storm, our priority is always preservation of life first, followed by damage to property.

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On behalf of VEMA paramedics and other emergency services, we give thanks to and acknowledge every person and company who assisted and went out of their way through sponsorships and willingness to get involved. This is what makes a community.”