Two emergency services are investigating possible neglect of duty following the death of a man last week.
Clint Trevelyan, safety manager for Dreykon Klus Civils, told the Courier that an employee, who had only started at the company the previous day, collapsed at about 5pm last Wednesday at the work place.
A call was made to the Dundee Emergency Medical Rescue Services, EMRS, at about 5.05pm and to the Dundee SAPS at 5.30pm for assistance.
Family members were notified and they arrived at the work place shortly afterwards. At this stage, the employee was lying on a cement floor. Mr Trevelyan checked for a pulse which he could not detect.
A private doctor was called and he arrived at 6pm and declared the man dead. The ambulance arrived at 7.33pm and paramedics acknowledged that the employee was dead. The family then decided to remove the body in their own vehicle. Normally, police would give the go ahead for the removal of a body as an inquest would have to be conducted. However, by 8pm no police van had arrived.
“I feel this is very heartbreaking for the family. We understand the EMRS also called for the police to come on their radio,” Mr Trevelyan said.

Unable to respond
Robert McKenzie, EMRS spokesman in KZN, said the matter would be investigated and he was unable to respond immediately to the complaint.
Colonel Anton Ackerman, Dundee’s acting SAPS Station Commissioner, has also been made aware of the non-arrival of the police and is to probe the matter. The Courier understands that the radio operator took the call but did not log the complaint.
As there was a shift change at the police station at about the time of the call, this too impacted on the SAPS’ ability to respond. The Courier is to continue to investigate the complaint.