Security officer saves toddler

A Blue Security reaction officer was in the right place at the right time and his first aid knowledge is the reason a 3-year-old Umbilo girl is alive.

The officer, Jacques Kruger, said he was doing his normal patrols in the Umbilo area on Sunday when he first heard, then spotted a woman who ran out of her house and down the stairs in River Lane, screaming, “My child, my child!”

Jacques said his immediate reaction was to help and he radioed his control room saying that he was leaving the vehicle.

“There were three things that came into my head as I followed the desperate mother. I thought maybe she was hijacked and the child was still in the car, or the child had fallen and hurt herself badly or fell into a pool, you never know what could happen,” he said.

When he was led to the little girl, Jacques said he saw that her mouth had already turned blue and her eyes were sealed shut. “I thought the child was dead but my adrenalin kicked in and I began CPR. I continued until I felt her body react with shallow breathing and a weak pulse but her eyes were still closed,” said Jacques, relief and joy shinning in his eyes.

Jacques said he felt such happiness when he realised she was going to make it and he had saved her life. “The mother was so emotional and crying and the father arrived home minutes after the paramedics.”

According to Garrith Jamieson, Operations Director at Rescue Care paramedics, his crew raced to the home just after 4pm after receiving a frantic call from the Glenmore Community Police Forum.

“Paramedics arrived to find the little girl in a serious condition. Paramedics stabilised the child before rushing her to a nearby hospital,” said Jamieson. He said the child was fortunate that Jacques performed CPR, which saved the little girl’s life.

This was not the first time that the Johannesburg born local hero has saved a life. A few years ago while still in Johannesburg, also working as a reaction officer, he was called to a home where a middle aged man was having a heart attack. “I saved his life and believe God sent me in both instances to save their lives. I am so happy because I went to visit the child’s family and the father told me that she is one hundred percent okay, but was still in hospital,” he said.

“Rescue Care paramedics urge parents to keep an eye on their children around the pool. Pool safety is of utmost importance and all pools should have a safety net or fencing that is high enough so children cannot gain entrance,” advised Jamieson.