Tributes pour in for ‘dedicated’ KZN medic
KwaZulu-Natal paramedics and other emergency responders are mourning the passing of one of their own.
The news of Derrick Banks' death emerged on Monday night.
He was the operations manager at First Responder KZN.
The group's provincial director, Jodi Jones, says Banks dedicated over 20 years to the emergency services’ sector, starting his career at the Red Cross.
"He saved countless lives in his career as a paramedic. He is well-known in the emergency service [community] in KZN and nationally.
"He had such a big heart, and he was the gentlest and kindest person to all his patients and to everyone he worked with. He has been a mentor to many people in emergency services, and I think there are a lot of paramedics that owe their careers to Derrick Banks."
Close friend, Andreas Mathios, shared a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook.
He says Banks’ death is a tremendous loss to the industry.
"Derrick was one of those paramedics who was selfless in his task in helping the community. He would go the extra mile. It didn’t matter if it was a good sunshine day or a bad storm, if he was available he would make a plan or an effort to get to you. He was never shy of assisting wherever he was needed."
Banks is survived by his three children.
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