TEAMS of emergency service members from the #SAESI2015 set a world record in a world first attempt to pull an approximately 16ton fire engine uphill, on Peggy Vera Road, Kibler Park, on Sunday, November 1.
Residents of the South joined the exciting event with their cameras to support and record the team of men and women, who have dedicated their lives to providing emergency care and rescue to others, pull a fire engine up a 1.5km slope in just 20 minutes and seven seconds.
The world record formed part of the Southern African Emergency Services Institute’s (SAESI) exhibitions and training events, which were hosted between Sunday, November 1, and Friday, November 6, with the aim of raising community awareness and promoting community safety.
The pulling was done by a group of people who switched places to keep the truck moving. The many supporters stood by shouting and screaming as if the Springboks locked horns with the All Blacks in the middle of Kibler Park.
SAESI 2015 events not only included the world record attempt but also a fun run, training events and also presented delegates with opportunities to discuss and debate various topics with industry leaders.
“This is the start of the #SAESI2015 bi-annual conference and we are very happy to attempt this world first and to receive such great support from the sponsors,” said co-organiser Sean Macnamara, who was excited to see SAESI president, Dino Padayachee, pull the fire engine uphill with the rest of the teams.
The support which came from the residents during the pulling could easily be confused with the drive against e-tolling which took place last year, from the Panorama Flea Market, as hundreds of people came together for one cause.