Screams and cries of agony shattered the silence on Wednesday night at Paddadam outside Vryheid, prompting nearby residents to raise the alarm on a local emergency WhatsApp group.
KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service area manager Frikkie Bekker and his crew were dispatched to the scene after receiving calls saying that a man had suffered severe burns after being caught in a veld fire in the area.

It appears that the fire reached the man while he was asleep at his usual spot, causing his blanket to ignite. The patient sustained 100% second-degree burns.

Due to the difficult terrain, a specialised response unit was called in. With the help of local security personnel, the man was carried roughly two kilometres to the nearest accessible road, where the ambulance team could continue treatment before taking him to hospital for further medical care.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.