Community hero Rolf Flindt asks for help to rebuild life-saving rescue unit
Ekurhuleni's community rescuer who spent years helping others during fires, crashes and medical emergencies is now asking the public for help after a devastating accident destroyed his vehicle and vital rescue equipment.
Ekurhuleni-based community rescuer Rolf Flindt is appealing to the public for donations to replace vital emergency equipment so he can continue assisting people in crisis.
Originally from Benoni, Flindt has spent years responding to emergencies using his privately funded vehicle and equipment, including incidents in Kempton Park.
Over time, he converted his Mahindra 4×4 into a rapid intervention unit equipped with firefighting, rescue, and medical tools.
“This work has never been about recognition or reward. It’s about being there when everything is falling apart for someone else,” said Flindt.
For years, he has responded to fires, vehicle accidents, and medical emergencies across the greater East Rand, often arriving before official emergency services.
His equipment allowed him to assist paramedics, stabilise vehicles, extricate trapped victims, and provide life-saving care until additional services arrived.
His ability to serve the community changed dramatically following a serious accident on October 16, 2025.
“I was travelling from Platjan on the Botswana border to Makhado when the left rear tyre of my vehicle burst about 13km outside Alldays, on the road towards Vivo,” he said.
“Despite advanced driving training, I was unable to control the vehicle. It rolled four times and came to a stop in a ditch.”
During the crash, much of his emergency equipment was ejected and scattered, some into a nearby game farm.
Photo: Kamogelo Magolo.
Although Flindt remained in the vehicle with his seatbelt on, he sustained severe injuries, including dislocated femurs, a skull fracture, a perforated eardrum, a dislocated shoulder, fractured ribs, and contused lungs.
He was initially treated in Polokwane before being airlifted to Mediclinic Sandton, where he spent an extended period in intensive care and is now undergoing physiotherapy.
The accident also resulted in the loss of his response vehicle and much of his specialised equipment, including his firefighting unit, bolt cutters, traffic cones, scoop stretcher, fire extinguisher, portable oxygen system, vehicle stabilisation equipment, Halligan tool, chainsaw, emergency lighting, and siren system.
While his hydraulic rescue tools, including the Jaws of Life, were recovered, they require inspection and possible repairs.
Without this equipment, Flindt said he is unable to respond to emergencies.
“Standing on the other side of a crisis, no longer being able to help, has been one of the hardest moments in my life. The most difficult part is receiving emergency calls and knowing I cannot respond,” he said.
Flindt has been involved in community safety structures since 2021 and converted his private vehicle into a rapid intervention unit after noticing a decline
