Man rescued after car trapped under truck
The man suffered multiple fractures to both legs and multiple injuries to various body parts and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
A man was rescued by the Tshwane emergency services firefighters at the weekend in a complicated operation after his vehicle was found trapped underneath a truck on the R101 road near Murray Hill.
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso said the rescue was a team effort together with emergency medical crews from the Gauteng emergency medical service and other private ambulance services.
“The vehicle was partially trapped under a truck in Tshwane on Saturday.”
Mabaso said Engine E192 from Temba, Hammanskraal station with a crew of four personnel arrived on the scene to find a light motor vehicle and a truck had collided. He said the light motor vehicle was stuck under the front part of the truck.
Mabaso said after surveying the scene, extrication tools were staged near the trapped car.
“The vehicle was wedged with cribbing to stabilise it. Access was immediately created by removing both passenger doors to get a medic inside to secure the patient and commence emergency medical treatment.”
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He said once the patient was stabilised, the roof of the vehicle was removed to create more working space.
“The weight of the truck was resting on the light motor vehicle, making it difficult to free the patient as both his legs were trapped from the knees down.
“Rescue personnel were able to clear car parts around the patient, including the hand brake, dashboard, steering wheel, and any other part around the driver’s side until they could insert a spine board and slide him up and out of the vehicle.”
Mabaso said the extrication operation lasted about 40 minutes due to the complexity of the scene and the time paramedics needed to administer intravenous fluids and medications.
He said other patients were treated in various ambulances, but out of the hot zone where the E192 crew members were occupied.
“The crews immediately prioritised stabilising and extricating the trapped patient.”
He said the man suffered multiple fractures to both legs and multiple injuries to various body parts and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
“Two patients with minor injuries refused transportation to a medical facility, while three with minor to moderate injuries and another two with moderate to serious injuries were taken to various medical facilities around Tshwane.”
Mabaso said the success of the rescue and extrication as well as the treatment and the management of the scene was credited to the professional manner and collaboration of all first responders on the scene.
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