Collision Kills One And Injures Fifteen

One person was killed and another fifteen commuters were seriously injured after a head on collision between a bakkie and a taxi occurred this evening on the Old Main Road near Lotus Park, Isipingo.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the taxi on the opposite side of the road facing the bakkie that had the whole front smashed in. The driver of the bakkie was found entrapped but unfortunately had died of his fatal injuries sustained during the impact. Fire Department used the Jaws of Life and other Hydraulic equipment to extricate the deceased from the vehicle.

The remaining commuters were found lying in and around the taxi and had sustained serious injuries. They were stabilised and treated for various injuries before being transported to various hospitals in the greater Durban area for further medical care.

Man Gets Stuck While Hiding Under Truck.

It is clear that transport to Durban by road for many commuters has become expensive but paramedics never thought that they would find a man stuck under a truck near the spare wheel, while it was travelling towards Durban this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics were called to the M13 Durban Bound just past Hillcrest this afternoon for a man who was stuck under a truck and possibly needed medical attention. On arrival they found the man had wedged himself underneath the truck near where the spare wheel was situated. ER24 paramedics were able to free the man with some assistance from the patient. Once he was freed he was treated for possible neck and back injuries as a precaution. He was transported to R K Khans Hospital for further medical care.

It is believed that the truck, which was on Old Main road had stopped at the robots in Hillcrest when the man allegedly climbed underneath the truck to hitch a ride to Durban. If it was not for motorists seeing the man’s leg hanging out from underneath the truck, the driver may have never known that he had a stow away.

Woman Crashes Car Into House.

A woman had a narrow escape from serious injuries after losing control of her vehicle and crashing into a house in Pinetown this morning.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the motor vehicle had gone through a fence, completely destroying the gate and fence and stopping at the front door of the house.

The driver was found inside the house in complete shock but had managed to come out of the accident unharmed. The patient informed paramedics that she would see her personal doctor if further medical treatment was required.

It is unclear exactly how the collision occurred but as per the patient she tried to avoid another car that had come out of one of the side roads. She lost control and ended up smashing into through the property.

Two Killed on N1 - Grassmere

Two people were killed this morning and another two were left in a critical condition near Grassmere Toll plaza when a truck and a car collided head on with each other.

Shortly before 07:30 paramedics arrived on a chaotic scene on the N1 about four kilometers after the toll plaza, and found a truck lying on its side with a severely mangled car on the other.

Paramedics quickly learned that the driver and the front passenger of the car sustained multiple fatal injuries. On further assessment paramedics found a man and a women in the back of the vehicle. Both of them were in a critical condition and had to be transported to a nearby hospital for further medical management.

It is understood from bystanders on the scene that the truck was traveling towards Johannesburg when it apparently lost control and veered across the middle island into oncoming traffic.

The highway had to be closed off in the direction of Van der Bijl Park and traffic is re-routed through the middle island of the highway.

The driver of the truck was also assessed on the scene. He sustained moderate injuries during the collision.

The exact cause for this accident is not yet known and will be investigated.

Three Car Accident Leaves One Dead and Three Injured

Three cars collided on the N12 near Etwatwa in Benoni leaving three people injured and one person deceased.

ER24 paramedics explained that when they arrived they saw a bakkie lying on it's roof in the slow lane of the double lane road. Two other sedans were scattered on the side of the road, almost in a field of milies. One of the cars, a blue Mazda, was severely damaged, and the driver had sustained what seemed to be a massive head injury. He was deceased upon the arrival of the paramedics, and he was crushed inside the mangled wreckage of the vehicle.

The woman driver of the other sedan, and two occupants of the bakkie, all sustained moderate injuries, and were treated on scene before being transported to hospital for further observation.

23 Injured from 2 Collisions in Cape.

Twenty three people were injured from two separate collisions in the Cape Peninsula this morning.

The first collision occurred when a minibus taxi rear-ended a bus on Walter Sisulu Drive in Khayelitsha. The driver of the taxi sustained serious injuries and needed to be cut from the wreckage by Metro Rescue. Another six occupants of the taxi sustained moderate to serious injuries. The seven patients were transported to G.F. Jooste Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital for further medical care.

The second collision occurred between a car and bakkie at the intersection of Coen Steytler Road and Buitengracht Road in the Cape Town CBD. Sixteen people were treated for minor to moderate injuries and transported to various surrounding hospitals. Some of the injured are believed to have been workers who were seated at the back of the bakkie and were ejected during the collision.

17 Injured After Head on Collision

Ambulances were called in from all surrounding areas after a taxi collided head on with a VW Polo this morning. The accident occurred on the R114 outside of the Riverfield Lodge Rehabilitation Center in Randburg North.

Both of the vehicles were left severely damaged in the accident, and a woman had to be cut out of the taxis left, front passenger seat. Part of the front of the taxi was lying on the opposite side of the road. The elderly woman was airlifted from the scene by an air ambulance to a Johannesburg hospital as she had sustained critical injuries. Another patient sustained serious injury and was rapidly transported from the scene by ambulance.

Eight people had to be immobilised on spinal stabilisation equipment after having sustained moderate injury including multiple broken bones, chest injuries, head injuries and abdominal injuries. A further seven people were treated for minor injury and shock.

Paramedics arrived on scene to find many of the patients lying next to the side of the road near the mangled vehicles. Back up was quickly called in and all the emergency services responded and worked together to ensure safety of the scene and prompt assessment and treatment of the patients involved. Even the nurses from Riverfield Lodge center donned plastic aprons and walked to the scene to assist with treating patients.

In total, seventeen people, both male and female, were removed from the scene by ambulance, and were transported to various surrounding hospitals. One of the woman involved was eight months pregnant, but she remained in a stable condition, complaining of pain to her head, she was transported to the Charlotte Maxeke woman and children's hospital for monitoring.

The JMPD Accident Investigation Officers were on the scene to collect evidence for investigation. The road remained closed in both directions for two hours from the time of the accident to clear the scene of patients and debris once patients had been removed.

Head On Collision Leaves Driver Entrapped.

A head on collision involving two light motor vehicles occurred late yesterday evening on Manning road in the Pietermaritzburg CBD, left two people with minor to moderate injuries and the driver entrapped.

ER24 paramedics along with the Pietermaritzburg Fire and Rescue arrived on the scene to find both vehicles in the centre of the road. The driver who was entrapped was in a serious condition and needed advanced life support intervention. Fire Department used specialised hydraulic equipment and the jaws of life to help extricate the man from the car. The other two people sustained minor lacerations and abrasions. All three patients were transported to Northdale Hospital for further treatment.

It is unclear who was at fault but the necessary authorities from the area would be investigating the incident further.

Seven Injured In Collision.

Three adults and four children have being injured after the vehicle they were travelling in left the road on the R56 about 10km outside Richmond towards Pietermaritzburg this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle that had gone down a 50m embankment. Two adults and four children aged between four and eight had sustained possible neck and back injuries and minor lacerations. The driver sustained minor injuries. All patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to Edendale Hospital by ER24 and EMRS.

It is believed that the driver may have lost control due to wet weather conditions causing the vehicle to go down the embankment and roll.

Emergency Landing on N1

 

Technorati Tags: Aircraft,Highway,Emergency,Bloemfontein

Commuters on the N1 highway between Winburg and Bloemfontein were surprised when an aircraft was approaching their direction this morning. Shortly before 11:30 the Piper light aircraft made an emergency landing on the N1. Commuters on the scene explained that they were confuse d about the happenings and immediately started to slow down and some even pulled over. Emergency services were called by numerous commuters after the plane touched down on the highway.  When paramedics from ER24 arrived on the scene, they found the aircraft parked slightly off the highway facing traffic. Paramedics quickly investigated if anyone sustained any injuries, but fortunately no one was injured, only in shock. It is believed that the aircraft had six occupants on board at the time. A man, believed to be the pilot, explained to paramedics on the scene that he experienced a technical difficulty and had to make an emergency landing. He also explained that the highway was fairly quiet and motorists starting making space for him to land. Fortunately the aircraft made a successful landing on the highway and the pilot then managed to park it on the side. The N1 highway between Winburg and Bloemfontein is closed whilst emergency services are still on the scene.

Hijacking Leaves Driver Serious.

A thirty six year old man is in a serious condition after being hijacked and shot in the early parts of yesterday evening. The man who was found by members of public lying outside a house in White road in Pietermaritzburg contacted emergency personnel to come to the scene.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the man in a very serious condition and had sustained a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. Advanced Life Support intervention was performed on the patient before he was transported to Edendale Hospital in a serious condition for further medical treatment.

It is believed that the man was hijacked on the R56 and shot there. He had walked about 5km looking for help before collapsing outside the house in White Road.

The necessary authorities will be investigating the incident further.

Man Found Hanging from Tree in Veld

Three men received the shock of their lives when they were exploring the river bank in Ruimsig this evening.

The men explained that shortly before 18:00 they were looking for a place in the river to fill their buckets with water near Van Staden and Sterretjie Streets when they made the gruesome discovery.

They found an unidentified man hanging from a nearby tree. The men continued to explain that they were so shocked that they dropped everything and ran towards a nearby residential complex where they found members of Viper Security.

The security guards alerted paramedics and made their way to the site. 

When paramedics arrived on the scene it was noticed that the man was probably already dead for a few days. The police was called to the scene to investigate the situation.

It is not clear if the man committed suicide. The police will conduct an investigation.

 

Technorati Tags: Crime,Fatal

Nine Incidents of Stabbings and Shootings in Diepsloot

It may seem bizarre, but within half an hour, there were nine incidents of people being stabbed or shot, in and around Diepsloot near Fourways.

ER24 paramedics were called to assist at the Diepsloot Fire Station for an initial four patients claiming to have been shot. These four patients were brought to the Fire Station in private vehicles, seeking medical attention for their injuries. Two of them had been shot while driving in a taxi along the R511 outside of Diepsloot, the taxi driver had sustained wounds to his chest, and his passenger had wounds to his stomach. The other man was allegedly in a fight when he was shot, and the fourth was also shot while driving in his car.
After paramedics started treating these four and taking them to various waiting ambulances, a fifth person arrived at the Fire Station after claiming to have been shot. Not long after that, another four people arrived, one by one, who had been stabbed, these too were unrelated incidents, allegedly having occurred during various bar fights.

In total, nine patients were treated and transported to surrounding hospitals by the various emergency services. Two people had been shot in the chest, one in the head, one in his leg and one in his stomach. The other four had sustained various stab wounds to their bodies. All patients were treated and were in a in a stable condition with moderate injuries, barring one of the men who had gun shot wounds to his chest, who was in a more serious condition.

The Diepsloot police will now have the difficult task of deciphering exactly what took place in Diepsloot tonight, and whether the shooting incidents were indeed unrelated or not.

Tragedy After Bakkie Collides With Truck

The road between Bendel and Kuruman is under construction, and according to locals is uneven and covered in gravel. A Toyota Hilux bakkie seems to have been travelling toward Bendel from Kuruman, with it's thirteen occupants, who all had shopping bags full of groceries with them.


A large construction truck was travelling in the opposite direction to the bakkie when the collision occurred. Paramedics on scene speculate that the driver of the bakkie lost control of his vehicle and collided head on into the front of the truck. The impact was so severe that the front axle of the truck broke loose, causing the front of the truck to further crush the already badly damaged bakkie. The bakkie's canopy had been torn loose, and people were scattered around the scene and nearby open field, along with their various belongings and bags of groceries.

Four people had already lost their lives, including the bakkie's driver, who was still trapped inside the vehicle, with the bakkie's engine almost entirely on top of his lap. The local emergency services were treating a nine month old baby boy who had sustained multiple critical injuries, and they rushed him to hospital, but there was nothing further that could be done for him. He died in the emergency room shortly after arrival.

Eight others were treated and transported for various moderate injuries, including the baby's mother, who was told of her tragedy while lying in the hospital being treated for her own injuries. Paramedics could hear her cries of grief as they collected their equipment and tidied their ambulance outside.

The driver of the truck was left traumatised, but fortunately uninjured. The police service was on the scene to investigate the actual cause of the accident.

Two Die After Car and Truck Collide.

Two people died and two others were injured after a truck and car collided at the intersection of Oswald Pirow Street and the turn-off from the N1, in the Cape Town CBD.

The truck collided into the left side of the car, which resulted in the death of the left front and rear passengers. The two other occupants of the car sustained moderate injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment.

The reason for the collision is unknown at this stage but the incident is being investigated by the police.

Waste Technician Killed in Accident.

A waste technician, believed to be in his late thirties, was killed in an accident that occurred in Uitsig, Durbanville.

It is alleged that the man was giving the waste removal truck a guide while it was reversing. The man is then believed to have tripped and fell, which resulted in the truck riding over him.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found the man lying next to the back of the truck, he had sustained severe trauma and was sadly already dead.

Police are investigating the incident.

Delivery Driver Stabbed By Car Guard.

A forty year old man is in a serious condition after being stabbed in the back by a car guard in Long Market street this afternoon.

Emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the man seated on the pavement with blood pouring from his stab wound. Paramedics placed pressure bandages on the wound and had to give him fluid therapy due to the amount of blood that he had lost. He was transported to Pietermaritzburg Medic-Clinic for further medical assistances in a serious but stable condition.

It is believed the driver was dropping off Fruit and Vegetables at a mini market when he was informed that someone was stealing from his truck. When he confronted the person, the man stabbed him.

The necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the incident further.

Cyclist Knocked Down, In Serious Condition.

A thirty five year old man is in a serious condition after been knocked down by a light motor vehicle on Town Bush Road in Chase Valley, Pietermaritzburg this afternoon.

Paramedics from ER24 arrived on the scene to find the man lying in the road being assisted by members of public who had stopped to help. The patient had sustained a possible neck, head injuries and fractures to his lower extremities.
Advanced Life Support Intervention had to be performed on the patient before he was transported to Pietermaritzburg Medi-Clinic in a serious but stable condition.

It is believed that the man was on his way home from work when he was hit by the light motor vehicle. The impact caused the man to be catapulted into the air and land about 15 meters from his bike. The light motor vehicle did stop on the scene.

Tar Truck Overturns Killing One

ER24 paramedics were called to the scene of an accident in Douglas street, approximately sixty kilometres outside of Kimberley. They arrived on scene to find tar gravel stones covering the road, and the three occupants of the truck standing around with a look of disbelief on their faces.


As paramedics assessed the three for their injuries, they pointed to where the truck lay, saying that there had been a fourth. It seems that one of the workers had been flung out of the truck as it had overturned, and it had landed on top of him. He was barely visible, with only a part of his one leg showing from underneath the truck. It was absolutely impossible for the paramedics to move the truck to fully get to him. He was declared deceased, and Fire and Rescue workers now had the difficult task of stabilising the truck to move it in order to remove the man's body.

The three other workers were transported to the nearby Medi Clinic for further assessment of their injuries.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, and it is suspected that a tire may have burst which caused the truck to overturn. Police will be investigating.

Mist Causes Chaos in Witbank

Between thirty and fourty vehicles piled into each other on the N12, approximately four kilometres outside of Witbank, near the Merrydale bridge. It was a chaotic mixture of cars, trucks, taxis and light duty vehicles. ER24 paramedics said that the four kilometre journey responding to the scene took almost twenty minutes as they could not travel faster than twenty kilometres per hour due to the heavy mist that had settled in the area.

Most of the vehicles seemed to have only been slightly damaged, while there were approximately five cars that still had people trapped inside the mangled metal waiting to be cut out of the wrecks. Around fifty people were injured in the collision and were transported to various surrounding hospitals via ambulance for treatment. Injuries ranged from minor bruises and shock to broken bones, head injuries and internal injuries. All patients were stabilised on scene before being loaded and transported. Fortunately there were no reports of fatalities in the accident.

Paramedics on the scene explained that all the ambulances from Witbank, some from Middelburg and even those based at surrounding mines were called in to assist. There was an estimated twenty five ambulances involved, this is excluding the Fire and Rescue vehicles, Police, Traffic Control and other essential service vehicles.

Bystanders that were uninjured, or had stopped to spectate, were issued with gloves and asked to help with the picking up or holding of equipment while paramedics were treating the patients.

It seems that the road remained closed in both directions for some time for clean up activities.

Disabled Man Killed - 200 Evacuated in Ammonia Scare

Paramedics and emergency services had their hands full this morning after an ammonia leak caused havoc in Vereeniging.

Shortly after 10:35 paramedics and hazardous material units arrived on the scene to find people evacuating the building. An emergency triage area was quickly erected upwind from the site where all the people were assessed and sorted.

Paramedics explained that they have assessed over 200 people as they exited the building area. One patient was transported to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment after inhaling the toxic substance.

The hazardous materials unit entered the building to search for more people as some of them explained that people might still be inside. Members of the unit apparently found a man underneath a table inside the building. The man had no signs of life and was rushed to the evacuation area.

Paramedics declared the man dead as there was nothing that they could do more for him.

Some of the employees on the scene explained that the man that was killed is deaf and he was very confused when people started evacuating the building. Other employees explained that he might have disappeared within the crowd and was overcome with the toxic fumes.

Fire and emergency services stood by on the scene whilst the hazardous materials unit tried to contain the leak.

An investigation into this matter will be launched by the local authorities.

ER24 Video

Traumatised After Being Held For Eight Hours

A security guard at a business in Kempton Park was held for eight hours by a number of robbers after they had broken in to the business at around 23h00 last night.

The robbers allegedly tied the guard up by his hands and feet while they searched the premises. For some unknown reason, they stayed there until they decided it was time to leave in the earlier hours of the morning. The guard, who is in his late twenties, explained to ER24 paramedics that they then began talk of shooting him before they could leave, and an argument broke out because none of them actually wanted to do it.

The argument carried on until it was so heated that the robbers allegedly started shooting at each other. According to the guard, it seemed that wounds had indeed been inflicted, but the severity is unknown as the robbers then quickly fled.

ER24 paramedics transported the guard to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor physical wounds where the restraints had cut into his skin. He was visibly traumatised by the incident, but grateful to still have his life.

The Kempton Park SAPS were on the scene and will be investigating.

Man Found Shot in Vehicle

A 33 year old man was found in a critical condition this afternoon after allegedly being shot in the stomach.

Paramedics that arrived on the scene found the man still in the driver's seat of his Mazda bakkie, confused and dazed.

The man had to receive urgent medical attention as it appeared that he lost a lot of blood during the incident. He was stabilised on the scene and rushed off to a hospital in Alberton for further medical management.

It is understood that the alleged shooting took place a few blocks away from where paramedics found the man. The man explained that he drove off after the incident and pulled over outside an office block in Alberton.

Workers from the office block noticed the man in his vehicle and called for the emergency services.

The police attended the scene. At this stage it is not clear what exactly led to the incident.

Thank You ER24 Jo'burg West!

On Friday morning at around 05h30 ish I was knocked down on my bike at the bend in Barry Hertzhog and Rustenburg roads in Victory Park.

Semi-conscious I managed to dial an emergency number - I was not aware of where I was so that turned out to be a bit of an exercise as I was totally incoherent.

Eventually some motorists stopped along with a tow truck, who helped to guide an emergency response team from one of your respective companies'

I just wanted to give a big thanks to the Paramedics on the scene and the lady in the Ambo who kept me sane - the team also came into the trauma ward with me and went above and beyond.

Currently I'm pretty broken with broken ribs and torn back musculature - having got over the rubber head - but would love to buy them lunch when I can mobilise again - please could you give me contact mails so I can thank them personally.

Double their salaries !

My most sincere gratitude to them all

God Bless

Steve Midgley

Thank You Vereeniging!

Thank you to the lady and gents that assisted my husband in Frikkie Meyer Blvd on Friday evening.He had a heart attack and the crews stabilised him on the scene and transported him to Vereeniging Medi Clinic. I do not know your names. Also, Jacques who was at the accident site.You are my heros!May God be with you and p...rovide you with the necessary strength to perform your duties. Thank you,Heidi,JC and Eddie Matthee.

Explosion Leaves Man in Critical Condition

A middle aged man was critically injured after working on a gas tanker at a factory in the Vaal Triangle. He was allegedly standing ontop of the tanker when the octance gas ignited and caused the port ontop of the tanker to shoot off. The lid that closes the port is shaped like a metal disk, and the explosion caused the disk to propell towards the man with incredible force.


The metal disk connected with his body at the level of his chest, causing serious injury. ER24 paramedics responded to the scene to find the man being treated by the factory standby paramedics, but he was in critical condition. They worked together to try and stabilise the man, and called for the ER24 Discovery Medicopter for assistance.


Chopper 1 airlifted the man to a Johannesburg hospital where the Trauma staff continued their efforts at stabilising the man. Upon further assessment he was found to have sustained multiple critical injuries, including multiple fractured ribs, broken right hip, broken collar bone, blood in his abdomen and a possible head injury.

Taxi Accident Kills One And Dozen Hurt.

One person is dead, another is in a critical condition, while dozen other commuters have sustained minor to serious injuries after the taxi they were travelling in over turned on the N2 North Bound just past the Umkomass River this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics and other emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the taxi lying on its side with commuters still inside. One patient was found outside the vehicle, who is believed to have been ejected from the taxi when the accident occurred. The patient was declared deceased due to the fatal injuries he had sustained.

Another patient had sustained critical injuries and needed to be airlifted by a medical helicopter for further medical care. The remaining fifteen patients had suffered minor to serious injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital by road for further medical care.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the accident further.

Two Injured as Bakkie Crashes into Building.

Two ladies were injured after a double cab bakkie crashed into the building where they work, in Pietermaritz Street, in Pietermaritzburg.

The two ladies were allegedly working near the front of the building when the bakkie came crashing through the entrance.

One lady sustained serious injuries and the other sustained moderate injuries. Both patients were transported to St. Anne's Hospital for further medical care. No injuries were reported from the bakkie.

Police cordoned off the scene are investigating the incident.

Three people are recovering after an ambulance overturned in eastern Missouri.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 TROY, Mo. (AP) — Three people are recovering after an ambulance overturned in eastern Missouri.

The Hannibal Courier-Post reports that the wreck happened Saturday in Lincoln County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 25-year-old Jessica Gulley of O'Fallon was driving an ambulance when the right front tire went off the road.

Authorities say she overcorrected, causing the ambulance to cross the center line and eventually overturn.

Gulley had minor injuries. Two others in the ambulance, 43-year-old Carol Jastering of Foley and 32-year-old Brian Schulz of Troy, had moderate injuries. All three were taken to a hospital.

It wasn't immediately clear if Jastering and Schulz were ambulance workers or if they were being transported.

Information from: Hannibal Courier-Post, http://www.hannibal.net

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Branch Administration Assistant

Pietermaritzburg

Competency Profile (Education, experience, skills & behaviour):
• Matric certificate
• Office Administration Qualification
• Basic Life Support
• 1 year Operational and Office administration experience
• Current HPCSA

Key Deliverables:
• Ensure seamless branch administration to interact with Head office
• Assist with Branch related Human Resources administration
• Setup and maintain filing systems for the branch
• Assist in branch Marketing activities
• Client interaction
• Establish and maintain excellent working relationship with Practice Relief
• To ensure driven and accountable PRF process for maximum billing efficiency

Interested applicants must please forward their CV’s and proof of compliance with requirements to hr@er24.co.za or 0867435859. Please indicate on application for which discipline and branch you applying for.

Liaison Coordinator

Cape Town Dispatch Centre

Competency Profile (Education, experience, skills & behaviour):
• Grade 12 certificate
• Registered Basic Life Support
• 2 years call taking/ dispatch experience

Key Deliverables:
• Ensure that relevant calls are dispatched via ER24
• Assists Metro with call taking and dispatch duties as required
• To ensure accurate and efficient administration system
• Filing and general administration duties as required
• Promotes and builds relationship with Metro and other service providers to foster sound relationships with ER24

Interested applicants must please forward their CV’s and proof of compliance with requirements to hr@er24.co.za or 0867435859. Please indicate on application for which discipline and branch you applying for.

Basic Life Support (BAA)

Kalagadi Manganese Mine – Northern Cape
(Contract)

Competency Profile (Education, experience, skills & behaviour):
• Matric certificate
• Valid EB driver’s license with PDP
• Registration with HPCSA
• A minimum of three months operational experience on the road and excellent driving skills are essential.

Key Deliverables:
• Patient care (within protocol) and transport of patients
• Liaison with trauma staff and doctors
• Marketing and rendering of client service
• Completing relevant documentation

Interested applicants must please forward their CV’s and proof of compliance with requirements to hr@er24.co.za or 0867435859. Please indicate on application for which discipline and branch you applying for.

Intermediate Life Support (AEA)

Kalagadi Manganese Mine – Northern Cape
(Contract)

Competency Profile (Education, experience, skills & behaviour):
• Valid EB driver’s license with PDP
• Registration with HPCSA
• Six months operational experience as an Intermediate Life Support (AEA)

Key Deliverables:
• Patient care (within protocol) and transport of patients
• Handling and follow-up of all emergency calls
• Liaison with trauma staff and doctors
• Marketing and rendering of client service
• Completing relevant documentation
• Supervisory duties

Interested applicants must please forward their CV’s and proof of compliance with requirements to hr@er24.co.za or 0867435859. Please indicate on application for which discipline and branch you applying for.

Advance Life Support Paramedic

Kalagadi Manganese Mine – Northern Cape
(Contract)

Competency Profile (Education, experience, skills & behaviour):
• CCA or National Diploma/Degree in Emergency Medical care
• Valid EB driver’s license with PDP
• Registration with HPCSA

Key Deliverables:
• Patient care (within protocol) and transport of patients
• Handling and follow-up of all emergency calls
• Liaison with trauma staff and doctors
• Marketing and rendering of client service
• Completing relevant documentation
• Supervision of crews on shift

Interested applicants must please forward their CV’s and proof of compliance with requirements to hr@er24.co.za or 0867435859. Please indicate on application for which discipline and branch you applying for.

Motorbiker Killed in Collision with Truck

A motorbiker believed to be in his late 20's was killed this morning after his bike collided with a delivery truck on Everest Street in Van der Bijl Park.


Paramedics were called to the scene shortly after the accident where they found the man lying against a tree next to the road.

Witnesses on the scene explained that the man was flung from his bike somewhat 30 meters against the tree.

Paramedics that arrived on the scene found that he presented with no signs of life and they initiated CPR. Unfortunately paramedics could not revive the man and he was declared dead.

The exact cause of the accident is not known. No one else was injured in this accident.

The incident was handed over to the police for further investigation.

Man Serious After Collision

A man to be in his late twenty’s is in a serious condition after crashing his car into a factory wall on Kruisfontein road in Brackenfell this evening.

ER24 along with Metro Rescue arrived on the scene to find the vehicle had crashed into a factory wall but was resting over a trench that ran along the factory wall. The driver was found inside the trench about 3m below the car. Emergency personnel stabilised the car before entering the trench. The man had suffered a possible head injury, along with spinal injury and was in a very serious condition.

The man was stabilised and placed into a specialised basket to help remove him from the trench. He was transported to Tygerberg Hospital in a serious condition.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but it is believed that he may have crashed his car and then tried to get out when he fell into the trench below him. Where he landed was directly underneath the car.

Collision Leaves Three Dead and Four Serious.

Three people are dead and another four have sustained moderate to serious injuries after the vehicle they were travelling in rolled on the N12 about 25km outside Klerksdorp in the direction of Potchefstroom this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the Toyota Cressida lying in the road and all seven patients were found scattered around the scene, it is believed that the patients might have been ejected at the time of the accident. Three people, a male, a female and a young boy aged between eight and nine had sustained severe fatal injuries and were declared deceased on the scene.

The remaining four patients, a female, two males and a little boy aged five had sustained moderate to serious injuries. They were all treated for neck, back injuries and multiple abrasions. They were all stabilised further and transported to Potchefstroom General Hospital for further medical treatment.

Motor Cyclist Knocked Down By Car.

A twenty one year male is in a serious condition after being knocked off his motor bike by a light motor vehicle at the Chatterton Circle in Pietermaritzburg this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the patient lying in the road and was being treated by an off duty paramedic. The patient had suffered possible head injury and a fracture to his shoulder. Advanced Life Support intervention was performed on the patient and transported to Northdale Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

It is unclear who was at fault but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would investigate the incident.

Taxi Accident Leaves Two Dead And Fifteen Injured

Two commuters are dead another two have sustained critical injuries and thirteen other have sustained moderate to serious injuries after the taxi they were travelling in over turned on the Old South Coast road near Kenyon Howden road, direction of Merewent.

ER24 paramedics along with other emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the taxi lying on its side with the commuters found lying on the road. Two passengers were declared deceased on arrival of paramedics due to the traumatic fatal injuries they had sustained.

Two other commuters had sustained critical injuries and needed advanced life support intervention needed to be performed. The remaining patients had suffered moderate to serious injuries and needed a full range of equipment to help stabilise the patients before they were transported to various hospitals In the greater Durban area.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the incident.

Fatal Truck Accident

A truck driver has been killed after the articulated truck left the road on the M13 between the N3 and Shongweni on ramp heading towards Hillcrest this morning and crashed into trees along the embankment.

Emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the articulated truck lying down an embankment with the container that it was carrying half way down with the contents lying on the road below. The cabin of the truck was sheared apart by the impact and the driver was found entrapped between the truck and a tree.

The driver had sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased on the scene by paramedics.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the accident further.

11yr Knocked Down By Car In Critical Condition.

A 11yr old female is in a critical condition after been knocked down by a light motor vehicle at the corners of Trichardts and Cason road in Boksburg North this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the young girl lying in the road, with the light motor vehicle just a few meters away from her. The patient had suffered severe head injuries, along with fractures to her lower limbs. Advanced Life Support intervention had to be performed on the young patient.

ER24 paramedics placed the child on a manual ventilator and stabilised her further before putting her into the ER24 Discovery Medicopter and airlifting her in a critical condition to Johannesburg General Hospital where trauma staff were waiting to take over the medical treatment from paramedics.

The necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the incident further.

One Dead, Four Serious After Bakkie Rolls.

One person is dead and another four people have sustained serious injuries after the bakkie they were travelling in overturned on North Coast Road near Effingham road this afternoon.

Emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the bakkie lying on its roof and with two of the occupants still inside the cabin entrapped. One of the occupants inside the cabin was already deceased by the time emergency personnel had arrived. The patient inside the cabin had suffered serious injuries and needed advanced life support intervention. Three other occupants that were found in the back of the bakkie had also suffered possible neck and back injuries. All four occupants were stabilised and transported to various hospitals in the greater Durban area for further medical care.

It is unclear how the driver lost control but it is believed that they were travelling along North Coast road toward Durban, when he lost control crashing into a light pole and an Armco barrier before over turning.

The necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the incident further.

Motor Cyclist Suffers Serious Injuries After Crash.

A motor cyclist has sustained serious injuries after a collision on the R103 near Polly Shorts involving a motor cyclist and an SUV this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the man lying in the road in severe pain. He had suffered serious injuries and even possible fractures to his lower extremities. Advanced Life Support Intervention had to be performed before the man could be moved onto a specialised board and transported to Northdale Hospital in a serious but stable condition for further medical care.

The driver of the SUV was examined but was in shock and would go privately to her doctor if need be.

Miraculously Given A second Chance

On one of the coldest days of the year so far, it seemed that it was meant to be when bystanders came across the body of a twenty nine year old man hanging from a tree by a rope, with his body partially submerged in the river below, in the small area of Heilige Akker in Potchefstroom.

It is as yet unclear as to whether the bystanders were physically looking for the man, or whether they just happened across him. As soon as they saw him, they activated the emergency services, and then cut him down from the tree. They managed to pull his lifeless body to a nearby island in the middle of the river, as it was more difficult to get to the river bank.

When ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene near Langenhoven street, they had no means to cross the river to the island, so the three of them carried their equipment above their heads and waded across the icy water to where the man was lying. After assessing the man, and trying to manoeuvre around a very limited amount of space, they found that he was not breathing and had no pulse. They immediately started CPR and resuscitation efforts.

Efforts continued for some time, until, miraculously, paramedics found the man's pulse to have returned. They continued manually breathing for the man while Potchefstroom SAPS Rescue Divers assembled their equipment in order for them to bring the man to shore. In amongst these happenings, the man's father had arrived on scene and was an emotional witness to the unfolding events.

The man was secured into the necessary equipment, and was pulled onto the river bank. He was then transported to hospital where Doctors and Nurses will further continue to fight for his life.

Man Injured After Car And Train Collide.

A fifty one-year-old man was transported to hospital after the car he was driving was hit by a train at a level crossing, along the R102 in Faure, near Eerste River.

When emergency services arrived on the scene they found the car lying on its roof between the train tracks and the road, with the man trapped inside the vehicle.

Rescue crews used the Jaws of Life and hydraulic jacks to extricate the patient through the broken rear window of the vehicle.

The patient was then transported in a stable condition to Vergelegen Medi-Clinic for further medical care.

Man Shot on Farm.

A man is believed to have been shot on a farm, on the N4, between Witbank and Bronkhorstspruit. It is alleged that the man was driving on the N4 when one of his car's tyres got a puncture. The thirty two-year-old man then went to a nearby farm to look for assistance.

The man was allegedly shot at on the farm and sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm. He then ran back to his car where the police and ambulance were called.

The patient was transported in a stable condition to Witbank Provincial Hospital for further medical care.

Police are investigating the incident.

Taxi Rolls Killing One and Injuring Seven

It appears that a taxi was experiencing mechanical problems when the driver lost control , collided with another vehicle, and then rolled on Frikkie Meyer Boulevard near Delfos Boulevard in Vanderbijlpark this morning.

ER24 paramedics on the scene explained that the taxi was severely damage, and the other vehicle, a sedan was parked on the opposite side of the road. The male driver was transported to hospital for further management of the moderate injuries he had sustained.

A man young was found lying behind the taxi. He was already deceased on the arrival of the emergency services, and paramedics believed that he had been ejected from the taxi when it had rolled, and it then possibly rolled over him, causing multiple traumatic injuries to his body. He appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties. There was nothing further that paramedics could do to save his life.

Another patient was found on scene to have sustained serious injuries, and was treated for chest injuries and a possible head injury.

Five others were transported to various surrounding hospitals for further treatment. Their injuries ranged from minor abrasions and bumps, to possible back or neck injuries.

The Boulevard heading towards Iscor was closed to traffic while the emergency services were assessing and transporting the patients.

Dankie...

Toe die eerste herfsblare begin val, het my maat van baie jare verhuis na sy Hemelase Vader.

My Dank aan Hennie de Beer en sy span, ann ER24 vir hulle vinnige optrede, asook ds Strauss wat ons bygestaan het, asook vir die diens. Dankie aan die dames wat die tee geskink het en aan elkeen wat my besoek het en blomme gestuur het in die hartseer tyd. Dankie ook aan Jannie wat dadelik op die toneel was.

Engela Steyn en Pieter (JNR)

Donation Of 10 Hospital Beds - A Thank You From Lidia Tehuis Ladybrand

Today, Lidia Old Age Home in Ladybrand is the proud owner of 10 hospital beds, kindly give to us by the wonderfully generous people at Medi-Clinic. We are not exactly sure to whom we should address this Thank You letter but shall be very pleased if you would pass it onto the person's concerned.

May we record our very grateful thanks also to the people who put our names forward to receive this truly and indeed much needed equipment for our Home. We are given to understand that it was the team from ER24. Please rest assured that, as our residents are registered members of ER24 Services in Ladybrand, we have the utmost respect for their staff and their services. The facility has been a blessing in our Mantsopa district.

Thank you very much Me. Appelgryn for your part in ensuring that we did receive 10 used hospital beds.

Yours sicerely,

H.P Oliver
Chairman - Lidia Tehuis vir Bejaardes

Four Injured In Collision

One man is in a critical condition, while another three men have sustained serious injuries after the car they were travelling in rolled 2km outside Bloemfontein on the Tnabanchu road in the early parts of yesterday evening.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the vehicle lying on its roof and a complete wreck. The driver was entrapped and had suffered multiple injuries. The Jaws Of Life was used to help extricate the man from the vehicle. Advanced Life Support Intervention was performed on the patient. The three passengers all suffered serious injuries and needed specialised equipment to help stabilise their neck and backs. All the patients were stabilised and transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the incident further.

Truck Overturns on Shack.

One person is believed to have died, and two others were injured, after a truck allegedly left the road and overturned on a shack, on Main Road in Kwa Dabeka, near Pinetown.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they treated the two occupants of the truck for moderate to serious injuries. ER24 and EMRS stabilised the patients on scene before transporting them to a nearby hospital.

Bystanders alleged that an occupant of the shack was rushed off to a local clinic before paramedics arrived on the scene and had subsequently died, this however could not be confirmed. Police were in attendance and are investigating the incident.

16 Injured After Minibus Taxi Overturns.

Sixteen people were injured after a minibus taxi overturned on the N3 in Merryvale, in Pietermaritzburg.

Of the sixteen patients, nine sustained minor injuries and the remaining seven sustained moderate injuries. They were taken to various surrounding hospitals for further medical care.

It is alleged that the driver of the taxi lost control of the vehicle, resulting in it hitting the centre medium, and then overturning.

Pedestrian Knocked Down, Dies Due To Injuries.

A female to be in her mid twenty’s was knocked down by a light motor vehicle on the M7 between Hans Dettman and St Johns bridge in the direction of Pinetown this morning.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the patient lying in the road in a critical condition. She had suffered severe traumatic injuries and needed advanced life support intervention. The patient was intubated and placed on a manual ventilator before being transported to R K Khans Hospital in a critical condition.

Sadly the patient died in the hospital due to her traumatic injuries.

Early Morning Collision Leaves Three Serious.

Three people have been seriously injured and another person has sustained minor to moderate injuries after a collision on the M13 Durban bound near Gillets / Everton on ramp involving a Toyota SUV and a KIA this morning.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the Kia lying on its side in the emergency lane and the Toyota SUV was found facing oncoming traffic in the left hand lane of the M13. The driver of the Toyota was still found in her seat complaining of neck and pains to her face. Her passenger was found walking around on scene with a cut to his hand. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle was found lying on the floor near their car. They were treated for neck and back injuries.

All patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to Life Entabeni and R K Khans Hospital for further medical treatment.

It is believed that the KIA had mechanical problems and the driver lost control and crashed into the Toyota that was travelling in the left hand lane. The impact caused both vehicles to roll.
Traffic was affected as one lane was closed.

Man Killed On His Way Home.

A 32yr old man has been shot and killed while on his way home from work in Kwadabeka this morning.

Discovery Medicopter Ground Support Unit was the first medical team to arrive on the scene and found the man lying in the road with family members standing around him. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his hand and chest. Paramedics started working on the man right away as he started to deteriorate on the scene. Unfortunately after a long battle the man was declared deceased on the scene due to possible internal injuries by the gunshot wound to his chest.

The necessary authorities will be investigating the incident further.

Accident In Fourways

Thirty one people have been injured an one killed after a collision in Fourways. The incident occurred around 05h30 at the corners of Kingfisher and Witkoppen roads.

It seems that a car was pulling out of Kingfisher road, when the two taxis were travelling down Witkoppen, behind one another towards Randburg. The first taxi collided with the car into the right driver's side, causing the taxi at the rear to collide with the front taxi. The first taxi then further lost control and rolled. ER24 paramedics on scene said that the taxi looked like a pancake, and was severely damaged on all four sides. The rear taxi only had minor front damage, and it seemed that all these occupants had sustained minor injuries only.

Six people were still trapped in the taxi that had rolled when the emergency services arrived on scene. One, a woman who appeared to be in her late fourties, was already deceased. A further two had sustained serious injury and paramedics attempted to stabilise them while the Fire and Rescue services used the Jaws of Life to cut off the taxi's roof. The other three had sustained moderate injury and were receiving treatment.

Paramedics found a further four patients to have sustained severe and critical injuries, including the man believed to be in his fifties who was the driver of the car. They were treated for various injuries including broken bones, internal injuries and chest injuries. They were transported to hospital by various ambulance services that were on scene.

Fifteen patients in total had sustained moderate injuries and another ten, minor injuries only. A two year old child was transported along with his mother to hospital, but paramedics explained that he had fortunately not sustained any injury.

The final patients were loaded into ambulances almost two hours after the collision had occurred, and the scene was cleared.

20 Year Old Dies in Collision

It seems that the young lady was travelling on the R42 between Heidelberg and Vereeniging when she lost control of her VW Polo.

The collision occurred approximately five kilometers from Heidelberg where the truck driver saw that the vehicle was out of control, and he swerved trying to avoid the accident. Unfortunately he collided with the passenger side of her car, and the impact caused both vehicles to travel a further five hundred meters while entangled into one another.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the female driver to be still in the vehicle, having sustained multiple traumatic injures. Tragically her injuries were fatal and there was nothing further that the paramedics could do for her. She was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The driver of the truck was in shock. He could not believe what had happened. He was transported to hospital with minor injuries for further monitoring.

Suspect Shot in Benoni

It is believed that three suspects were performing a robbery in Benoni when they were disturbed by the CMS private security company. A chase ensued and the suspects were cornered at the intersection on Pretoria and James road.

Two suspects were arrested on the scene by the police, but a third was found to have been injured inside the vehicle. ER24 paramedics were called to the scene to assist. They found the man to be alive, but in a very critical state. They attempted to stabilise him, but due to the severity of his injuries his condition quickly deteriorated. Paramedics then had to start CPR on the man, but he was declared deceased after it was found that he had no signs of life.

He had sustained what looked to be like a fatal gunshot wound to the side of his head, with another wound on the opposite side. It is believed that the wound may have been self inflicted. According to paramedics the man looked to be fairly young, maybe in his early twenties.

Police will be investigating the incident further, and as it is the scene of a crime, no further details could be made available.

Elderly Woman Killed By Truck

An articulated truck carrying containers, was travelling through the intersection of Boschoff street and Long Market street in Pietermaritzburg when it is believed that a woman stepped out into the road.

The woman who appears to be in her late fifties was fatally injured in the accident. The truck driver was unable to stop his heavy vehicle quickly after he had hit the woman, and she was found with multiple traumatic injuries to her body, and she was lying underneath the truck.

It seems that no one else was with the woman at the time of the incident, and it will be the duty of the SAPS to local and inform the woman's family of the tragedy.

The truck driver was not injured, but he stood on the scene with a sense of disbelief to what had just occurred.

Breakfast bids farewell to Jeremy

Jeremy Mansfield has announced that he will be relinquishing his role of morning show host of 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s, the Rude Awakening.

Jeremy has presented the Rude Awakening for 13 years

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the show. Management and the Primedia Broadcasting Board have asked me to stay active in other areas of the radio business, which I am looking forward to,” he said.

Jeremy was diagnosed with cancer last year and during his chemotherapy treatment, the rest of the team carried the show very successfully. They now have a tried, tested and proven formula in place to take the show forward.

The show, which broadcasts from 6am to 9am weekdays, will therefore continue with Darren Simpson, Samantha Cowen and the team.

“Jeremy has contributed significantly to developing the team and has personally supported and endorsed this change,” said CEO of Primedia Broadcasting Terry Volkwyn.

“We look forward to working with Jeremy in his new role, and know that the team will build on the wonderful foundation Jeremy was instrumental in laying,” she continued.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Primedia Group, Kuben Pillay, paid a special tribute to Jeremy for his tremendous contribution to radio broadcasting in South Africa, and the success of the 94.7 brand in the Primedia stable.

Jeremy’s final day on air will be Monday, 12 July 2010.

Workers Injured After Bakkie Rolls

A Bakkie carrying workers overturned near Durbanville on Klipheuwel road, after colliding with what looked like a hatch back. The car was severely damaged in the front due to colliding with the side of the bakkie, which then overturned due to the impact. The intersection is allegedly known as the "doods kruising" to locals.

ER24 paramedics from Belville arrived on the scene to find the workers in the cold, wet grass on the side of the road. One of them had suffered quite serious injuries and was treated by the Advanced Life Support Paramedic. He had a possible break to his hips and abdominal injuries. The other workers were complaining of multiple aches and pains, but they were all in a stable condition when transported through to hospital. The two people from the car were also transported to hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

All services were on scene to assist and aid with traffic regulation.

Six Injured After Truck Crashes Into Ditch.

Three workers sustained serious injuries, while another three workers sustained minor injuries after the truck they were travelling in crashed into a ditch at the corners of Howick Old Main road and Curry’s Post this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the truck that was carrying wood lying in the ditch, while the six occupants were found up the road just a few meter away. Three of the workers had sustained possible neck and back injuries, while the other three had sustained minor abrasions and shock. All three patients were transported to Northdale Hospital for further medical care.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but it is believed that the truck may have had mechanical problems but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the incident.

Collision Leaves Three People In A Serious Condition.

A driver and his two passengers have sustained serious injuries after the vehicle they were travelling in left the road and crashed into an embankment on the old Wartburg road in Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg this afternoon.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the vehicle that was carrying construction equipment scattered across the verge and the driver and his two passengers were entrapped inside the cabin of the vehicle.

The driver, who was mechanically entrapped, was the first to be freed from the wreckage. He had sustained possible neck and back injuries. The two passengers were entrapped and required specialised hydraulic equipment and the Jaws Of Life by the Fire Department to help extricate them from the vehicle. Advanced life support intervention had to be done while Fire Department were extricating. One of the passengers sustained a possible fracture to his leg. All three patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to Pietermaritzburg Medi-Clinic in a serious but stable condition.

It is believed that the driver and his two passengers were on their way back towards Pietermaritzburg when they took the corner and lost control in the wet weather. All necessary authorities were on the scene and would investigate the accident further.

VUVUZELA Madness @ 12:00

*high resolution at www.flickr.com/photos/er24ems

Security Guard In Serious Condition After Attack.

A 38yr security guard is in a serious condition after being assaulted by three suspects this morning while looking after a school in Pinetown.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene, to find the security guard seated on a stair case in the school grounds. The patient had sustained a serious lacerations to his head and eye. The injury to the eye was so severe that there is a possibility that he may lose his vision. Paramedics stabilised the patient and took him to Life Entabeni Hospital for further medical care.

The reason for the attack is unclear but the necessary authorities were on the scene and would be investigating the assault further.

Elderly Woman Critical After Scooter Crashes

It seems that the woman was turning into an estate on the Nova Constantia road in Nova Constantia, when her scooter collided with a car.

According to paramedics on scene the lady was almost in the slip road when the collision occurred, and it seemed that her scooter had been driven over. The sixty three year old woman was semi conscious when ER24 paramedics arrived, and she was disorientated and in severe pain. Paramedics assessed her injuries and immediately requested that she be airlifted due to the severity of the injuries she had sustained. She needed further medical treatment as soon as possible.

She was treated on scene for a possible break to her hips and leg, and paramedics suspected that she may have internal injuries. The also noted that she was a large gaping wound to the back of her left shoulder. The woman was in an extremely critical condition as ER24 and EMTSA paramedics continued to stabilise her until the ER24 Discovery Medicopter landed on the scene.

The woman was airlifted to Vincent Pallotti Hospital where, according to paramedics, she remains in a critical condition while doctors attempt to repair her broken body.

Why did I let this happen to me?

The Times columnist Melanie Reid broke her neck and back earlier this month. Here, from a hospital bed, she confronts her future . . .

by Melanie Reid

This is me. I’m dictating this because I lie imprisoned on a hospital bed. I’m here because, three weeks ago, I landed on my head and broke my neck. In the space of 15 minutes I have gone from someone whom I considered to be a fairly high-achieving mistress of her universe to what looks like a tetraplegic.

It happened as I was doing a course of cross-country jumps at the start of the season. I’ve been riding for 30 years and I have always done so on a safe horse. It was the fifth jump, he was jumping a little stickily and with the brilliance of hindsight, the uncatchable brilliance of hindsight, you think, maybe he wasn’t going so well. But experience has taught you to kick on. So we did and we went for this little jump. I had committed, I was riding hard for it — and he stopped sharply. I slid over his head quite slowly, and was face-planted in the Perthshire soil, some of which is still tying up my teeth three weeks later.

As I landed I felt the impact on my face and thought, OW! And then there was this blinding flash, this red light, and in a perfectly cold, conscious, logical part of my brain I knew my back was broken. When I couldn’t move my legs I wasn’t altogether surprised and I just lay there thinking: shit, why did I let this happen to me? Damn, why did I let this happen to me? Damn, life is going to change for ever.

I lay with my face in the soil. My friend, who is a vet, had jumped the fence first. I told her: “I can’t move my legs.” They phoned for an ambulance.

The St John Ambulance team were very good but I think they were horrified to realise the implications of what was going on. I could speak quite normally. I said: “Why don’t we phone for a helicopter?” I could move my shoulders and so I could flip-flop my elbows, but there was no power there and I thought, keep still. Here was me, a middle-aged woman, arrogant enough to think I could compete with riders 20 years younger than I am, telling myself, it’s not going to happen to me. But it has.

After 15 minutes, the helicopter landed. In fact two helicopters landed. The journalist in me smiled. I think the Sea King got there first and Katie, my friend the vet, said: “Ooh, the winchman’s really dishy”; and he said: “Does anyone want to come to Glasgow, with the casualty?” and she said: “Oh yes, I do.” And I thought, Katie, you should be taking your child and your pony home.

They put me on the stretcher and already, in a weird way, my life was shutting down. I was strapped on to bodyboards and put on the floor of this helicopter. I love helicopters. I’ve always loved helicopters and I couldn’t enjoy riding in it. I experienced a moment of utter frustration.

The winchman was indeed very dishy, and he took his helmet off, but I was having trouble breathing, and I think he was worried that, because it was obviously a neck break, I didn’t have the chest power to breathe. I said to him: “I can’t breathe,” and he said: “Yes you can, girl. You do this for me. We’re going to be there in six and a half minutes.” It was one of these hilarious Mills & Boon moments where you think, I’m yours, I’m just completely yours, and at the same time you’re thinking, no one will ever want me again.

Then it was into A&E, from there to high-dependency unit, to MRI scan. The doctors come and introduce themselves and they tell you that your spinal cord is fractured and is unstable and the column has been damaged — not severed, but damaged, stretched on one side and compressed on the other. It’s a C6 fracture, a classic neck break. There is a break further down the back — T9 — but it’s not so serious.

With an unstable fracture of the back, you become a slow-motion emergency. You have no control and it’s hard to come to terms with the loss of that, even now. Here in the national spinal unit for Scotland, at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow, the care begins, and the pace of life changes down.

You go from running your own life, from being go-for-it, up-for-it, get-the-job-done, to being this person who is completely helpless. The change is extraordinary. Apart from the physical shock of a spinal injury, there is the emotional shock of coming to terms with the fact that you’ve lost control over everything ... everything — from your future employment to your bowels, even to your ability to call out for a nurse in the night.

Those of us who operate at full volume, full control, we make the decisions and we make them quickly, and suddenly we’re caught up in a world where there are no decisions to be made. We just have to lie and wait. Our futures have been taken out of our hands in a way we could never have dreamt of. And we know that coming to terms with that will be an extraordinary battle.

I was operated on by one of the top neurosurgeons, Jennifer Brown, and she pinned the bone.

The nights are the worst. On the third night, I lay through the long, dark reaches of the soul. You realise that maybe it’s not going to work out. The biggest battles are fought at night-time. Sleep is difficult, but if you do sleep there are these appalling morphine-induced dreams. Every time you close your eyes the tiles on the ceiling start to crawl with animals, demons and obscene things. And you float up there as if on some morphine cherry-picker and drift in a state through this world made of knitting, cable-stitch, plain and purl, with dark hollows. You can read obscene messages written on the tiles and when you look again, they’ve gone and when you look again, there’s a rat peering out.

Whoever did Trainspotting had had a lot of morphine at some point or other. I’ve stopped the morphine now, but the effects of it are still crawling in my system. I was on it for quite a few days. I had to be intubated for the operation and remained on a ventilator until I was strong enough to breathe on my own. I then caught pneumonia. I was told by my doctor: “There was a point at which we thought we might have lost you there.”

Most of the time, you don’t know how ill you are, because you seriously refuse to consider it. You don’t think logically. You are trying to be brave for your family when they come to visit you, to make them smile and go away happy and think, she’s bright tonight, when really you just want to say to them: “Stay with me tonight. Please don’t go.”

To sustain the illusion, the nurses lie to you. They have to lie to you. It’s the only way to keep you going. So I would say: “When will I come off the ventilator?” And they would say: “Oh, it’ll be Saturday.” Well, let me tell you, that week there were five Saturdays, three Sundays and two Fridays. Then they did finally take me off.

The other enormous thing is the claustrophobia. When you’re on a spinal board the vision is peripheral. You can only see a tiny view — a dinner-plate size above you. You can’t see clocks. You’re also lying very flat because you’re in a neck brace, and when you do move you get motion-sick, so I was permanently nauseous, bringing up food. Food? I haven’t had proper food for three weeks. I was fed intravenously through a stomach tube. Tea? What’s a cup of tea? They give you drugs for nausea and you bring them up. Everything is a fight to keep you alive and to get your body through the shock.

Every night you lie and you look at your body and you try and recognise it. I don’t know if my legs are going to come back. You look at them and it’s the weirdest sensation, because you’re looking at the bit of your body that you can’t feel. It’s slightly fleecy and suedey and velvety and you can’t feel it. You can look at it and touch it, but you can’t feel it. All you can do is try to wiggle your toes — but the wiggle doesn’t happen, except that just very occasionally you think, maybe I did feel something there, and you’ve just got to keep hoping.

I have got fairly good use of my right arm and I’m right-handed. I’ve got mobility in my shoulder. My fingers are weak, but hopefully I’ll be able to build on that. If I’m extraordinarily lucky I might get some feeling back in my legs ... you hear wonderful stories. I just have to come to terms with the fact that I’m lucky to be here at all. And in my head I am fiercely alive.