Community assistance saves 89-year-old woman
JOBURG – The communities of Kelvin and Buccleuch recently assisted an 89-year-old after she fell down in her bathroom.
The community of Buccleuch and Kelvin recently pulled together to assist an 89-year-old woman who fell down in her bathroom.
According to her son-in-law, Barry Goldman, his mother-in-law, Joyce Janse van Rensburg had tripped or fallen in the bathroom at around 9.40pm.
Goldman said he was unable to get to her head, and her body was wedged between the door and the wall. “I managed to open the door a few centimetres and could just get my hand in; she was bleeding and unconscious.”
He said they made contact with Netcare 911 and security and requested help from the community. “The response from the community was incredible. People we had never met or even spoken to responded, both professional folk and volunteers.
“The first responders arrived in under two minutes, thereafter we simply lost track of the numerous security and volunteer groups that arrived. I think there was anything between 10 and 15 responders assisting before the paramedics arrived.”
Netcare 911 arrived shortly and managed to extract Janse van Rensburg from the bathroom where she was stabilised and admitted to Sunninghill Hospital’s ICU. She might be allowed to go home soon.
“Without the fast reaction of so many caring people, Janse van Rensburg would not be alive today,” said Goldman who remarked that it made them realise that when emergencies occur you are not alone in the suburbs of Buccleuch and Kelvin.
“As a direct result of this, my wife Theo and I have volunteered our services to our community and would like to encourage others to do so in their communities as well.”
Luewellyn Pillay of the Kelvin Residents Association and Sandton Guardians said the Sandton CPF Guardians’ community patrollers, along with security companies Fidelity ADT, Ukuthemba Security and Duma Tactical, arrived at the premises, while ZSS Security requested emergency services.
Pillay said that when Netcare 911 arrived, using their many pieces of equipment, the medics were able to move the patient further into the bathroom allowing for the bathroom door to be fully opened.
“Great teamwork and coordination from the security companies and Sandton CPF Guardians, as well as teams across the suburbs of Buccleuch and Kelvin resulted in a positive outcome. A perfect example of a community supporting community,” concluded Pillay.
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