A male driver believed to be in his late fifties is has been left fighting for his life following a serious motor vehicle collision in the Avoca area, earlier today.
Shortly after 10:00 the Marshall Security Emergency Contact Centre received a call for a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Chris Hani (North Coast) Road and Rinaldo Road. Our Medical Support Unit along with Netcare 911 Emergency Care Practitioners was immediately dispatched.
On arrival, it was found that a panel van had collided head on with a heavy-duty construction vehicle. Three people were found to have suffered injury, two moderately so, with the driver of the panel van entrapped in the wreckage, having suffered critical injuries. Advanced Life Support intervention was needed to stabilize the man, who was placed onto a mechanical ventilator, before a delicate extrication process took place.
Members of the Ethekwini Fire and Rescue Services worked fervently to free the man using the “jaws of life” along with other specialized hydraulic rescue equipment.
Once freed the man was placed on to a specialized stretcher for the prevention of neck and spinal cord injuries and a call was made for the assistance of the Kwazulu-Natal Department of Health Emergency Services Helicopter. Air Mercy Services were activated to assist.
The man was airlifted in a critical but stable condition to Netcare Umhlanga Hospital.
