EDITOR – I would like to commend the lifesavers and paramedics who worked so hard to save the man who drowned at uShaka Beach on Sunday.
We were not related to the man who drowned, but we witnessed their efforts from a distance. A crowd had gathered and we didn't want to add to the noise and rubbernecking.
They worked flat-out for a full hour of resuscitation efforts in the blazing hot sun. Afterwards, our family went forward to thank them for their efforts – and were struck by how emotional and exhausted the crew all were. They also mentioned that no-one ever says positive things to them and how unusual it was. They were close to tears, and mentioned how it's always so hard to lose a patient.
I'm shocked that people can come forward to gawk and only say negative things to people who work so hard to save lives. People are clueless about what goes on in this line of work.
They can't save every person they attend to. We need to thank these people and not come down on them.
Marc de Villiers
Durban
