On Sunday night, while attending to another scene, Netcare 911 paramedics had to rush to the aid of a man who had fallen down a water inspection pipe in Tshepisong.

In a statement released by Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911 spokesperson, they responded to reports of a collision on Adcock Street in Tshepisong at 21.39pm.

“Medics found that two vehicles were involved in a collision and that one person sustained minor injuries. The victim was treated on scene and transported to hospital by ambulance,” read the statement.

He continued to explain that while on scene a towing operator arrived and as he was getting out of his vehicle, he fell five metres down a water inspection pipe that had no cover.

“This drew the attention of emergency personnel on scene who rushed to his aid.”

A paramedic and a rescue technician from a private service were lowered into the pipe to assist the seriously injured man. He was treated and stabilised, and with the use of spinal immobilisation equipment and a rope the man was lifted to the surface where he received further treatment.

Due to the nature of the man’s injuries a Netcare 911 helicopter ambulance was activated to airlift the patient to a specialist facility for the care he required.”