A holidaymaker’s serious injury has raised concerns about the safety of the slipway path leading down to Willard Beach.

Dedre van Graan and her family came to Ballito from Kaapmuiden, Mpumalanga for a 10-day holiday over the festive season.

However, their visit turned into a nightmare when she broke her ankle after slipping and falling while walking up the slipway from the beach. She spent New Year’s Day in Alberlito Hospital, where she had surgery on her ankle. She was discharged the following day, but her holiday was ruined.

Van Graan said her daughter slipped at the same spot while walking down to the beach earlier on the same day. She also saw a young girl slip in the same place two days before her own fall.

“If the problem is not fixed, I’m sure more people will get injured in the future,” said Van Graan. “It was a simple slip, but if you sit there for a few hours, you will see many people falling in the same place.”

Although Van Graan is upset about her accident, she was grateful for all the people who helped her while she waited for the ambulance.

“A group of young adults assisted me at the beach before the ambulance arrived. The Netcare 911 paramedics were fantastic, as were the doctors at Alberlito.”

KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) Director for Beaches Njabulo Ngwane said the council was looking at possible solutions.

“We are considering redesigning the position of the shower area next to the lifeguard tower,” said Ngwane.

“We have had this structure for almost 20 years and never had any complaints of this nature. The high volume of people, and the sand that is indirectly deposited at the concrete area is out of our control. We will provide more information on possible solutions in the near future.”

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