Local man proves himself a hero

A local chef proved that he had the heart of a hero when he helped several people out of two burning vehicles. Mr Eckson Mabaso witnessed the horrific accident between a bus, a truck, and an RAV4 on the R40 on June 4. Instead of waiting for help, he rushed to get the victims to safety.

Mabaso is a head chef at Uplands College and was driving from White River to his home in Tulamahashe at the time of the incident. He had picked up two hitchhikers and they had just started chatting, when the truck behind them collided with a bus.

There was an explosion and Mabaso pulled over and rushed to help the passengers. The bus door was jammed so he grabbed a wheel spanner from his vehicle and smashed the windows at the back, enabling people to escape. He also called emergency services and the police.

Mabaso says one of the hitchhikers, a woman, helped him, but the other left the scene. Another bystander joined them in helping people get out of the bus, letting the injured and elderly step on their shoulders to get down. The woman, who wasn’t as strong as the two men, was dragging people away from the flames.

They managed to get 17 out. At one point, a woman threw her baby out of the window, and fortunately Mabaso caught it.

“The RAV4 smashed into the bus and burst into flames before anyone could get out,” he said. The trio of heroes pulled the driver from the RAV and moved her to safety.

The fire spread to the back of the bus, and people were burning to death. “It seemed like every second person was exploding. It was a sight that will stay with me forever,” Mabaso said.

By the time the police and emergency services arrived, they’d had enough and left the rest to the professionals. Mabaso and his passenger looked around for the third member of their team, but he’d left without a word. He took the traumatised hitchhiker straight to her house, and praised her for keeping her composure during the incident. “I didn’t know I was giving a hero a lift. She was wonderful and kept it together so well.”

When Mabaso arrived home, he just sat for hours, going through the evening’s events. “I had never seen something like that and I’ve been all over the country. It was terrible,” he remarked. What added to the trauma was that he had lost his child in an accident, and this had brought the memories back. “Everything I did that day, I did for my daughter.” He sent his condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of those who died.

Mabaso was full of praise for the two people who helped him and said they worked together very well, even though they were strangers. He and the woman communicate often, but they’d like to track down the third member of the team. “I need to know more about him and thank him for his effort. We can sit down for coffee, or even have a braai.”

He was severely traumatised, and had to go for therapy. “Seeing people die in front of you is not a nice thing. Ms Lindiwe Mabaso of Health Choice is helping me now.” He is able to sleep again and says he is trying to process it without relying on any medication.

On his way home a few days later, Mabaso drove past the spot where the accident took place and again envisioned the blaze. He pulled over and sat there for a few minutes, thinking about all the people who had died. “God sent us to help those people.”