The Civil Aviation Authority has dispatched investigators to the crash site of a Netcare helicopter on Thursday, in which five people including four health care professionals lost their lives.
The ECMO-equipped air ambulance, Netcare 1, was en route to Hillcrest in KZN to pick up a critically ill patient for transfer back to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. The helicopter went down near Bergville..
Netcare on Thursday released the names of those aboard:
Dr Kgopotso Rudolf Mononyane, an anaesthetist. Dr Mononyane had delayed the flight in order to try help to save the life of Jackson Mthembu, who unfortunately passed away from a COVID-related illness.
Curnick Siyabonga Mahlangu, a cardiothoracic surgeon.Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant.
The above three were all from Netcare Milpark Hospital.
Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911, Mark Stroxreiter, a helicopter pilot who worked for the National Airways Corporation.
Health Minister Zwile Mkhize said: “We’d like to convey our very sincere condolences to the families of all those doctors and pilot who lost their lives. We know their dedication, their hard work and their effort to try to save lives all the time.”
Dr Richard Friedland, chief executive officer of Netcare said: “We are shocked beyond words at the tragic loss of these healthcare heroes. The whole of Netcare falls silent as we bow our heads in tribute, respect, love and memory of our fallen colleagues and frontline heroes who have died in the line of duty.”
No cause for the accident has yet been identified, although videos from the scene show that wreckage was spread in a wide area. Unconfirmed reports from witnesses recounted a mid-air explosion, whilst a voice note circulating on social media claimed that the helicopter fell to the ground and exploded.
Source: IOL News
