MEDIA ALERT: Recent WCG: Health EMS & AMS Incident Response

The Western Cape Government Health: Emergency Medical Services (WCG Health: EMS) in Collaboration with the Air Mercy Services (AMS) Responded to Two Incidents Recently:

16 January 2013:

17h30 – 20h45, Bainskloof Pass Mountain Range – An AMS Rescue Team flew to Bainskloof Pass after a 65 year old French National male, was wounded while paragliding. According to the Rescue Paramedic that attended to the patient, a change in the current of the airstream caused the chute to lose shape and the paraglider dropped to the ground. The Rescue team did an aerial sweep of the mountain range and found the patient an hour later, between houses in Bainskloof. He sustained facial and pelvic fractures. The helicopter was able to land 100m away from where the patient was spotted. He was assessed by the paramedic on the scene, stabilised and airlifted to Vincent Palotti Hospital. The mission took 3 hours to complete.

17 January 2013:

07h50, R102 Somerset West – EMS and AMS responded to an incident where an adult male cyclist, 35 years old, was knocked down this morning. An EMS response car was dispatched to the scene, the paramedic assessed the patient, stabilised him into a stretcher, where he was then airlifted by the AMS Rescue Helicopter to Tygerberg Hospital. He sustained facial and arm fractures. The mission was complete at 08h30.

For more information on the condition of the cyclist, please contact Laticia Pienaar on 073 464 2034.