Meeting the man caught on camera at Van Riebeeck train crash
Frikkie Koen is kept motivated by helping people. He is passionate about his community.
A picture of a young man carrying an injured passenger on his back after the recent train accident at Van Riebeeck Park Railway Station, went viral on social media.Michael Beukes wrote on Facebook: “This is what we should live for, saving each others lives not taking them. Very inspirational photo! Let this man be an example for us all.”
Kempton Express managed to trace this young man we took a photograph of at the chaotic scene the night of the accident on October 4.
“I left everything I was doing to go and help at the accident,” said Frikkie Koen (24) from Benoni.
Also read:
• UPDATE: Commuters saw crash coming and jumped from moving train (videos)
Born and bred in Benoni, Frikkie, is a selfless man who always wants to help and serve his community. “I will go where the community needs me. If there is an accident I will go and lend a helping hand,” said Frikkie.
He currently works as a response officer for No Jack Vehicle Tracking, a family-owned business. He was home schooled for most of his school life and attended Curro Helderwyk for his Grade 11 and matric.
“Helping people keeps me going and keeps me motivated. It doesn’t matter what kind of an emergency it is,” said Frikkie.
He was at home in Benoni when he heard about the train crash at Van Riebeeck Park Railway Station. He received a message on one of his reaction applications on his phone and quickly rushed to the scene.
“I notified my dad when the message came in and went to the scene,” he said.
“There was a shortage of stretchers because there were so many people who were injured. The man I carried on my back was waiting for a stretcher to be moved to an ambulance.
“Because it was so busy, a paramedic from Netcare 911 and I decided to help move people from the platforms to the ambulances. The man I carried had an injury to his knee, that’s why I carried him on my back,” he continued.
“That picture shows no one is better than anyone else. It’s nothing new for me to be on a picture, and that’s how I responded to this specific one.
“I just see myself carrying a man that needed help, that’s it. How other people responded, is their response, not mine.”
Frikkie wants to be in this industry for as long as possible. Helping the community has always been his passion.
He hopes that more people can give their time and effort to make their communities a better place to live in.
Some of the comments posted on social media
Nkululeko Mngomezulu: “This is unity.”
Marionette van Niekerk: “Dis hoe dit behoort te wees. Ons is almal God se skepping.”
Kabelo Malatsi Kgashane Kutullo: “That’s a wow pic. UNITY.”
Marcelle Rene Byrnes: “Together we can do it…UBUNTU.”
Mxolisi Mhlongo Joko: “God bless you for your help man…this is [the] nation Mandela wanted to see.”
Rowena S Mendes: “Humanity, compassion and empathy.”
Jenny Templemore-Walters: “That is how the majority of the nation is. It’s the minority that keeps fuelling racism for their own benefit.”
Antoinette Le Roux: “This is an image reflecting the TRUE South Africa! It’s only a few from both ends of the spectrum that are trying to destroy our country. We shouldn’t allow them to carry on with that nonsense. Pictures like this bring tears to my eyes.”
