Close call for paramedic
If I hadn't stopped for a few minutes to take a call my wife and I would have been seriously injured or even worse.
FOR a paramedic, dealing with near death experiences is merely part of the job.
But there will always be that one incident powerful enough to make the bravest and most selfless human rethink and appreciate every moment of life.
This is true for Chris Botha, Netcare 911 paramedic and media liasion who, if he had not been side-tracked for a few minutes, would have been killed or seriously injured by a bouncing missile that broke off a bakkie. On Sunday morning, 31 January, a wheel with the tyre rod attached, posed a dangerous threat as it bounced across the N2 highway across the centre median and smashed into a vehicle that was travelling north. The impact of crash was so bad that the roof of the car collapsed, injuring the driver who also suffered a crushed hand caused by the bouncing tyre.The man was not alone in the car, as his wife and young baby sat in the backseat. The family was said to be on their way to enjoy a day at the beach. Fortunately both mother and baby were unharmed.
“I was on my way to Umhlanga and if I hadn’t stopped for a few minutes to take a call my wife and I would have been seriously injured or even worse. This has been a reality check for me, when I saw the damage. It shows how quickly life can change. Like this family who were excited to be going to the beach unaware of what was going to happen in the next moment. It really makes one appreciate life. Botha noticed the vehicle pulled to the side of the highway. “I stopped and noticed the front part of the car was severely damaged and the occupants were exiting the vehicle and standing in the centre median,” he said.
“Overcome with emotion and relief, the paramedic hugged the parents. “I take my hat off to the father for his quick thinking that probably saved his family’s life and to the parents, thank you for making sure your baby was secure.The nation should to take them as an example for what good parenting is. Because of the safety precautions they have taken to protect their baby, a life was saved,” he said.
He urges motorists to maintain their vehicles and to have all necessary servicing done. “Get all you bearings checked, get regular services done on your tyres to prevent these types of accidents from happening.”
The driver was stabilised at the scene before medics transported him to a local hospital.
You may also like to read:
Paramedic speaks of joy of roadside birth
Click to read some more Chris Botha articles
