Tribute to Siphelele Mhlanbi

Submitted by: Volksrust High School Principal – Mr Jan Ferreira.

On Saturday, 31 May 2014 a player from the U/14 Rugby team of Volksrust High School suddenly passed away.

He played rugby in a match against Hoërskool Hoogenhout of Bethal. There was an injury to another player at around the 20th minute of the match. The referee stopped the match and called the first aid helpers to address the situation. While this was happening, another player from Volksrust High School approached them and told them he had a pain in his chest and had difficulty breathing.

The referee was present on the spot and said to the first aid helpers that it looked serious. They then determined that he be taken to a hospital. The referee agreed and supervised that the boy was carried from the field safely. While he was being placed on the stretcher, the referee reports that he saw saliva coming from the boy’s mouth and alerted them to the fact.

The player was carried off to where the ambulance was parked next to the A-field, right next to the field where the U/14 match took place. The ambulance is on standby on the premises at all sports meetings at the school.

The referee questioned the two touch judges who are both coaches at their respective schools about any possible incident that could have taken place, but both were adamant that no foul play or any incident had taken place to prompt that situation.

He was then taken to the doctor by ambulance and the paramedics who accompanied him. He still complained of a difficulty in breathing.

On arrival at the doctor’s consulting room which is about a kilometre from the school, his breathing and heartbeat had stopped. The doctor, who was aware of the ambulance’s approach, was awaiting them and assessed the situation immediately. The doctor and the very highly-qualified ambulance team succeeded in recovering the child’s breathing and heartbeat.

Arrangements were made to have the child moved to the Mediclinic Newcastle where he was waited upon by medical specialists and placed on constant resuscitating support.

Mr Jan Ferreira, principal of Volksrust High School was on the terrain and he contacted the child’s parents according to the information on his medical papers that are compulsory to be kept by the coach before every match. Only the mother was available and when told about the situation – that the child was moved to the hospital in Newcastle because he was ill – she replied that she would get hold of the father who was not available at that time.

The mother was again contacted when the severity of it all had sunk in and this time Mr Mandla Khubeka, from R & LU Security (the owner and operator of the ambulance) explained to the mother in her vernacular, isiZulu what the situation was. She explained her dilemma of having to get a taxi to Newcastle first. The principal immediately gave instruction to have the mother picked up and transported to Newcastle with the school’s transport but R & LU Security gave Mr Khubeka instruction to rather use their transport as it was faster and easier.

The mother was taken to Newcastle where she was able to see her child before the machines were of no use any longer as the child was declared brain dead. The father, who is a teacher in Newcastle, arrived shortly after the mother who was accompanied by Mr Khubeka.

Volksrust High School gives its most sincere sympathy to the parents in this dire situation. It is emphasised that at no time was anything taken lightly nor was any time wasted in trying to help the child or assist the parents.

The principal and staff would like to thank R&LU Ambulance service, Mr Khubeka, as well as Dr Hennie Strauss for the fast and efficient service they gave to the school and the pupil.

Volksrust High School Principal – Mr Jan Ferreira.