A serious incident occurred this afternoon at the Coetzenburg athletics stadium in Stellenbosch. Eight high schools from the surrounding Boland area were attending the interschool athletics meet at the world famous stadium.
Hundreds of pupils were sitting on the stands cheering on their sporting students on the field. Without warning a member of the crowd allegedly detonated some sort of tear gas canister in the crowd. Panic ensued as hundreds of students fled to the exits causing a stampede.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene they found between 30 and 40 pupils in need of medical attention. 17 however were identified as being in a serious condition. The injuries sustained varied from bruises and lacerations to sprained ankles. The most serious injury was sustained by a male student who fell off of the stand onto his neck.
All of the injured pupils were taken to various hospitals in the area in multiple ambulances including Metro EMS. The incident will be investigated by the appropriate authority.
Derrick Banks
ER24