Perilous plunge into stormwater drain for Amanzimtoti man
An Amanzimtoti man plunged 1.5m into a stormwater drain while walking along the sidewalk, leading to extensive injuries to both his legs.
A STROLL along the sidewalk turned perilous for Christiaan Butler, 68, when he fell into what he initially thought to be an uncovered manhole on February 14. He would go on to spend the next 10 days in a hospital bed due to severe injuries to his left leg, with extensive skin loss and soft tissue damage.
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He explained that the community should be aware of and avoid the pavement along Commercial Road in the Amanzimtoti CBD. While walking in a northerly direction, he stepped into a large v-shaped crack between concrete paving slabs, where he fell around one-and-a-half meters into the stormwater drain below. He added that it was essentially a hidden trap and shudders to think about what could have happened had it been a small child who fell through the opening.
While trapped, he was unable to move his legs or free himself. He was thankful to have been helped by two members of the public who pulled him to safety, before being assisted with first-aid by staff at Salajees Hardware. Butler was admitted to the trauma unit at Kingsway Hospital, where initial X-rays showed no fractures.
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“Due to the fall, I suffered extensive skin loss from my thigh down to my foot on my left leg, as well as significant soft tissue damage to my right lower leg. The jagged concrete edges caused deep wounds, and portions of tissue became necrotic, requiring surgical debridement under general anaesthetic,” said Butler.
He was discharged on February 23, but requires ongoing wound care as well as a vacuum device meant to pull fluid from his wound, reduce swelling and clean the wound as well as stimulate growth of new tissue.
Soon after the incident, he reported the matter to ward 97councillor, André Beetge, who later visited the site, conducted an inspection and reported the matter the eThekwini Municipality.
After being discharged, Butler visited the pavement and noted that hole was still there and not cordoned off. Butler called for public walkways to be properly and consistently maintained and hopes his story will raise awareness and encourage authorities to act decisively to prevent possible future incidents.
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