Elderly man rescued from trench, Umhlanga Rocks

At approximately 21:00 on Wednesday, Crisis Medical Paramedics were called to Lagoon Drive in Umhlanga Rocks after a seventy-seven-year-old man had fallen into a trench.

Reports from the scene suggest the man was walking along the roadway when he stepped into the trench excavated by construction workers in the area, falling approximately six meters below the roadway.

A call was made for the assistance of the South African Police Services Search and Rescue unit, as well as the Ethekwini Fire and Rescue Services.

An intricate rope system was rigged to allow paramedics to descend to assess the man, who was found to have suffered moderate injuries. Intermediate Life Support intervention was needed to stabilize him, before he was placed onto a specialized stretcher for the care and prevention of spinal cord injuries.

A joint effort between all services then saw the man delicately hoisted to the roadway where he was transported by a Crisis Medical ambulance to a nearby hospital for immediate definitive care.

The man said he was walking along the roadway when suddenly he fell into the hole and found himself stuck for over an hour before anyone came to his aid.

The local authorities were in attendance and are conducting the necessary investigation into the incident.