Helicopter crash victims hailed as 'brave' and 'selfless'
The CEO of the Netcare Group say the medical
professionals who died in a helicopter crash in KZN have answered the highest call.
They'd been on their way to pick up a critically ill patient in Hillcrest and transfer them to Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital when the Netcare 911 plane they were in came down near Bergville.
They've been named as Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, Dr Curnick Siyabonga Mahlangu,Mpho Xaba, Sinjin Joshua Farrance and pilot, Mark Stoxreiter.
CEO Dr Richard Friedland says they gave their lives to save others.
“These brave, selfless, frontline heroes, who were on mercy mission to serve the life of a desperately ill-patient dying from covid-pneumonia,” Friedland said.
“As we all know a catastrophic tragedy occurred, and they died tragically in the most devastating of accidents. This was their calling and they answered the highest call,” he added.
Health Minister, Dr. Zweli Mkhize - says he was shocked to learn of the deaths.
He says Dr Monoyane had delayed the flight to assist colleagues who were trying to stabilise - Minister of Presidency, Jackson Mthembu who died on the same day of COVID-19 complications.
Health Professions Council of South Africa president, Professor Simon Nemutandani, says they are distraught.
He says the healthcare workers showed dedication, selflessness and fulfilled their Hippocratic Oath.
DA KZN Spokesperson on Health, Rishigen Viranna says healthcare workers are under pressure every day, and to lose their colleagues is even more painful.
“Having to go through the COVID-19 pandemic and to lose their friends in this manner,” Viranna said.
We call on the Civil Aviation Authority to speedily investigate this crash to determine what happened,” Viranna said.
