Durban medics on emergency call blocked by protesters
Paramedics responding to a medical emergency in Mount Edgecombe, north of Durban, were blocked by protesters on the Duffs Road bridge on Friday night.
They were on their way to assist a woman, in her late 80s, who had collapsed at her home.
"Unfortunately, as they came off the M25 onto Duffs Road bridge they were stopped by protesters singing and chanting on the roadway.
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"They saw in front of them a fire as well as concrete boulders that had been placed to obstruct any vehicles going or leaving that area," KZN VIP Medical Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said.
Jamieson said they had to take another route to reach their patient.
"The paramedics decided to re-route which delayed the call by approximately five minutes as they had to now respond via the N2 through Umhlanga to the Mount Edgecombe area.
"The patient was then stabilised on scene before being rushed through to a nearby hospital."
Jamieson has made an appeal to protestors.
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"These protests are ongoing and have become increasingly worse tonight, and obstructing an ambulance or any medical or emergency personnel could be detrimental to human lives.
"Paramedics have urged protesters to please take into consideration that people still need the services that need to respond to assist them in their time of need."
