Search teams rescue trapped man after Durban building collapse
An elderly worker was freed after being trapped under rubble for two hours when part of a church building collapsed in KZN.
An elderly man who was trapped underneath rubble following a building collapse at Union Lane off Monty Naicker Street was freed by search and rescue teams and rushed to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital for further treatment this afternoon (May 9).
Berea Mail reports that, according to rescuers, he was among five workers who were tearing down an old church building in the Durban CBD.
Provincial director of trauma services Dr Tim Hardcastle said the workers suffered various injuries ranging from minor to serious.
“The worker is alive and has been rushed to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital,” said Hardcastle.
Witness describes collapse
A motorist who was stopped at the intersection of Union Lane and Monty Naicker Street said they were alerted to the incident by a cloud of dust and the sound of rubble.
“When I saw the dust, I pulled to the side and saw one person running out,” added Sfiso Msebeni who witnessed the incident.
“We could hear voices and saw more people come out. He ran and sat on the side of the building. They told us one person was trapped.”
Rescue operation
Following a two-hour rescue operation, the man was located and pulled from the rubble.
Investigations are underway and a section of Monty Naicker Street that was closed has since been reopened.
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