Six Critical in Highway Smash

Six people are in a critical condition and one died at the hospital this morning when two vehicles collided on the M1 highway north just before the Houghton drive exit.

An ER24 response car was on its way to another incident when the paramedics came across this horror accident. It appears that a white bakkie and a black Mini Cooper collided with each other whilst travelling north on the highway.

For an unknown reason the two vehicles collided with each other. The bakkie, carrying four occupants at the time, overturned several times ejecting two of its occupants before landing on its roof in the middle of the highway.

The Mini collided with the armco-barrier in the middle of the highway before colliding with a lamppost and landed into oncoming traffic in the middle of the highway. Three of the occupants of the Mini were entrapped after the accident.

A lady from the overturned bakkie was thrown out of the vehicle and smashed into the armco-barrier. The barrier and its poles ripped her from the waist down. She sustained a traumatic amputation of the full leg and partial waist. Paramedics tried everything for her on scene and she battled for her life. ER24 rushed her to the Johannesburg General Hospital. Sadly she died shortly after arrival at the hospital.

Two occupants were trapped underneath the bakkie and only their legs were visible. Fire Fighters had to use heavy duty rescue equipment and hydraulic support to lift the bakkie and cut it open. The two critically injured occupants were rescued about 45 minutes later and also rushed off to a nearby hospital. The fourth occupant that was flung from the bakkie was found a couple of metres from the vehicle. She sustained serious injuries.

Three people was entrapped in the Mini Cooper. All of them sustained multiple fractures. The Fire Department had to use the jaws-of-life to rescue them from their vehicle. They were all stabilized and treated on the scene, but were in a serious condition on departure to hospital.

The exact cause for this incident is not known and the Johannesburg's Metro Police Department will be investigating.

ER24, JMPD, JHB Fire, NetCare and SAPS joined forces to rescue the victims of the crash.

The highway was initially closed in both directions, but only the fast lanes in both directions were opened later. The highway remained backed up whilst Metro Police are investigating.

Car Loses Control After Collision With Pedestrian

Two people have died in yet another pedestrian accident.

A Mercedes was travelling on the N12 just passed the Xavier on ramp last night when the driver noticed two pedestrians running across the highway. According to the female driver, she tried to swerve, but collided with both of the pedestrians.

After colliding with the pedestrians, she allegedly lost control over the vehicle and smashed into an overhead signboard in the middle of the highway. A female passenger in the Mercedes at the time died instantly due to multiple injuries.

Paramedics could only find one pedestrian lying next to the highway with multiple injuries. He was also declared dead on the scene.

The female driver of the Mercedes was in a serious condition and had to be rescued from her smashed vehicle. Paramedics transported her to the Mulbarton Hospital for specialized care.

Paramedics, Fire fighters and Police Officers searched for the second pedestrian, but could not find anything. The driver of the vehicle is convinced she collided with two pedestrians. The Metro Police will investigate the accident.

When paramedics departed from the scene, a second pedestrian was not yet found.

Truck Smashes Into Peak-Hour Traffic

Paramedics and Fire Fighters attended to yet another serious truck collision, this time on a Pretoria highway.

At approximately 18h20 a truck carrying bricks lost control after its brakes allegedly failed. The inter-link truck ploughed through peak hour traffic on the N1 just before the Atterbury Road, taking two cars with it on its disaster path.

The truck's trailer disconnected from the horse and spun around in the opposite direction. The driver of the truck was not injured and questioned by the police on the scene.

A family travelling in a white Huyndai barely escaped with their lives when the truck crashed into the from behind. The driver and his mom along with his four year old boy fortunately sustained only minor injuries. The little boy and his grandmother was transported to the Unitas Hospital for further medical examinations.

Another driver from a dark colored vehicle, which was also smashed from behind, sustained no injuries, but was assessed by paramedics on the scene. This vehicle was approximately 100 metres away from the Hyundai.

The highway was chaotic and completely blocked off. Fire Fighters from the Tshwane Fire Department made an alternative route next to the highway for blocked commuters. They had to cut of pieces of a large tree in order for vehicles to move freely underneath it.

It was only about an hour later that it was possible to move the truck partially out of the highway in order to open the slow lane. Traffic was backed up passed the N14 Brakfontein Interchange.

It is a miracle that no one was killed or seriously injured. It is believed that the truck was on its way from Boksburg.

Within 12 hours, ER24 attended to four serious truck accidents. The first collision on the N1 at the Gordon off ramp, the second at the N3 Van Buuren Interchange, the third at High and Great North Roads in Benoni and the above mentioned incident on the N1 Atterbury.

It is believed that almost 13 children and 12 adults were injured in today's truck accidents.

Disabled Hurt in Truck Smash

At least 12 disabled children were injured when their minibus they were travelling in allegedly collided with the side of a fuel tanker in benoni this morning.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found children scattered from the overturned minibus. It is believed that one of the kids were entrapped underneath the minibus after it overturned and bystanders lifted the vehicle to pull the child to safety.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known. It is understood that the vehicle lost control after colliding with the fuel tanker and overturned several times.

Four children were seriously injured and is in a critical condition. Most of the children were rushed off to the LIfe Glynnwood Hospital where they will be treated for their injuries. The remaining number of children were taken to nearby hospitals.

The principle of the school attended the scene and were busy alerting the family members of the accident.

No one was injured in the 18-wheeler fuel tanker and the intersection was closed off for traffic during the rescue.

Car Vs. Truck

At least one person is in a critical condition after a red Mazda 323 collided with the back of a low-bed truck.

According to a bystander on the scene, both vehicles were travelling south on the N1 before the Gordon Road off ramp when the accident occurred.

Paramedics were alerted about the serious accident just after six this morning.

When medics arrived on the scene, they found the driver of the Mazda slammed forward behind the steering wheel of the car. The driver was barely breathing and rescue personnel had to use rapid extrication to remove the driver from the vehicle in order to save his life.

Advanced Life Support manoeuvres had to be implemented. The driver was rushed off to the Life Flora Clinic where specialized treatment will be administered.

The Johannesburg's Metro Police Department will be investigating this accident. No one in the truck was injured.

It is believed that the driver of the Mazda was on his way to work in Alberton when the crash occurred.

The man died later in hospital.

18 Injured in Taxi Smash

18 people including a 4 year old girl sustained multiple injuries after a taxi and a Opel Corsa collided on the corners of Jan Smuts and Hillcrest Streets.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found a taxi that pushed an Opel across the intersection into the controlling box of the traffic lights. Patients were lying scattered on the pavement and numerous bystanders assisted with first aid.

Paramedics from ER24, Netcare and Provincial Services joined forces, to quickly stabilize and rapidly transport the patients to various hospitals.

ER24 cared for a mother and a 4 year old girl that was in the taxi at the time of the crash. The girl sustained a possible fracture to her leg.

The female driver of the Corsa was also transported to the Sandton MediClinic for further treatment. She sustained possible injuries to her arm and back.

The patients were transported to the Sandton MediClinic and Helen Joseph Hospitals. JMPD attended the scene.

The driver of the taxi was not injured in the crash. The exact cause of the incident is not known.

Pedestrian Airlifted After Crash

A Mozambican foreign national is in a critical condition after he was involved in a serious pedestrian accident outside the Zandsruit informal settlement.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found the man lying in the middle of the road with serious injuries. He collided with the front windscreen of a Mercedes and sustained a possible head injury and multiple fractures.

The patient was immobilized on the scene and stabilized. Due to the severity of his injuries, advanced life support manoeuvres had to be implemented to save his life. The air ambulance helicopter was called in to assist.

Shortly after the helicopter landed, the patient was airlifted to the Johannesburg Hospital where he will receive specialized treatment for his injuries.

Marina road was closed during the rescue operation and curious onlookers stood next to the scene of the crash. The Johannesburg's Metro Police Department will investigate the incident.

Farm Attack in Hazyview

An elderly woman is in a serious, but stable condition after she was attacked on her farm in Hazyview.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found the elderly woman being attended to by SAPS and a doctor from Hazyview. Paramedics assisted with the treatment.

The lady sustained possible fractures of her shoulders and facial injuries. According to the lady a gun was pushed in her mouth and caused her to suffer injuries inside her mouth. It is not sure at this stage how she got injured during the attack and where she was at the time. No other reports of other injuries were received.

The lady was transported to the Nelspruit MediClinic in a serious, but stable condition.

Details are still sketchy and the scene is still being investigated by the Witrivier SAPS.

"Free" Fuel on HAZMAT Scene

It was a free for all when a fuel tanker overturned in the R25 Interchange near Tembisa.

At approximately 10h00, emergency services received an emergency call for a fuel tanker that overturned and is leaking fuel. Paramedics that arrived on the scene found an extremely hazardous situation.

A fuel tanker, believed to carry almost 38 000 litres of fuel overturned on the on-ramp of the R25 towards Tembisa. The driver of the tanker was the only person that was injured and there were no other vehicles involved. He was transported to the Aarwyp Hospital by the Ekurhuleni Emergency Services.

A different site quickly developed on this highly explosive and flammable scene. Pedestrians and commuters from everywhere ran towards the overturned tanker to get their share of the "free" fuel. Literally hundreds of people stopped alongside the highway and on top of the bridge to collect fuel. Some of them used anything from a can, beer bottle, buckets and water bottles to collect fuel.

Some of the fuel collectors were so arrogant on scene that they demanded a share in the fuel and started fighting amongst each other. It is amazing to see how quickly people can get buckets and other fluid holding devices on scene. Some children were running down the on-ramp to get fuel.

The situation got worse when the "fuel collectors" started having a casual chat on the scene and lighting cigarettes. The commuters and pedestrians quickly outnumbered emergency services. The police was called in and arrived quickly on the scene.

Fire Fighters had no choice, but to use extreme action to disperse the crowd in order to continue with cleaning up operations and prevent more fuel escaping into storm-water drains. A fire hose was directed at the "fuel collectors" and opened with full force.

People were running and screaming in all directions, up the embankment and up the on-ramp. The crowd got angry that they were not allowed to collect the "free" fuel and started throwing rocks at the fire services. A quick turn of the fire hose at the rock throwers were no match, as the fire department quickly scored in their favour. The powerful water stream swept them off their feet straight into the arms of the police. The police managed to cordoned off the area, it is not certain if anyone was arrested on the scene.

Fire fighters used all means possible to contain the spillage and closed off the complete intersection as it holds a high safety risk.

Every now and again when a passerby tried to gain access to a leaking manhole on the truck, his urge for free fuel was quickly washed away with a fire hose.

13 Injured in Taxi Smash

Thirteen people including the driver of a taxi have been injured when a white Hi-Ace taxi collided with a black Toyota RunX this evening on the corners of Empire and Barry Hertzog Drives.

According to a two truck driver who was sitting on the corners at the time, the taxi came "flying" through a red robot. Moments later the two vehicles collided. The taxi spun off and landed on its roof partially on the pavement next to a robot. The RunX came to a standstill not far from the overturned taxi.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, most of the patients were found lying around the taxi on the pavement. Another patient was found with serious injuries next to the front of the taxi. According to the occupants of the taxi this was the driver. He sustained multiple injuries and advanced life support maneuvers had to be implemented to save his life on scene.

Amongst the occupants of the taxi were five ladies and two of them sustained serious fractures.

Two of the occupants in the RunX were assessed and treated on the scene. The driver of the RunX declined hospital transportation.

All of the occupants from the taxi were transported to the Helen Joseph Hospital and the driver was transported to the Johannesburg General Hospital.

Hitch-hiker Mangled on Highway

A suspected middle-aged hitch-hiker have died on the N1 highway just before the Beyers Naude off-ramp.

It is believed that the man was walking next to the highway in search of a possible ride when he was run over by a vehicle. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they only found pieces of a mangled body across the highway.

Clothes, bags and toiletries was scattered along the death path. Paramedics could not establish any identity on the man.

He was declared dead on the scene and the Johannesburg's Metro Police Department will investigate the accident.

According to bystanders on the scene, the initial vehicle that collided with the man did not stop on the scene. Only a second vehicle that collided with the pedestrian stopped a few metres from the body. No one was injured in this vehicle.

Paramedics had to close off the highway during the clean-up process and investigation.

Westville House Fire

Ethekwini Metro Fire and Rescue Services and ER24 paramedics, rushed off to a report of a building fire at the corners of South Road and West road in Sydenham at around 10am this morning. On arrival, rescue personnel found a building engulfed in flames. Metro Fire and Rescue Services quickly sprang into action, dowsing the flames in rapid time.

Medics stood by on the scene, waiting for confirmation as to whether there were any casualty’s in the building. The all clear was eventually given and a sigh of relief was heard among the rescue crew.

An investigation will be done to determine what caused the fire and until this is completed, the building has been closed off to the public. ER24 Spokesperson, Derrick Banks says “The Fire and Rescue guys deserve full credit for taking command of the scene and ensuring the fire was quickly extinguished”

One Hour of Madness

It has been an unlucky Friday the 13th for some..... in the space of 1hr, ER24 paramedics rushed to no less that 3 serious accidents in the Durban area..

In the first accident, which took place on the N2 incoming opposite the airport, a minibus taxi drove into the back of a stationery truck. The mangled wreck of the taxi had to be literally peeled from the truck he hit. The driver and conductor sustained moderate injuries and we taken by ambulance to Prince Mishyeni Hospital in Umlazi.

At the same time, another ER24 crew were busy on the M4 outgoing near the Francois Road bridge. A pedestrian crossing the freeway illegally, was hit by a motor vehicle and flung into the air. He was then hit by a second car and was found lying in the middle of the road when paramedics arrived. Medics were amazed to find the man had only sustained a fracture to his right leg. Three people from the cars sustained very minor injuries and were discharged from the scene.

Medics had only second to catch there breath when they rushed off to the M4 near the Victoria embankment for another minibus taxi that hit a Mercedes Benz. Two people were injured in the taxi and were transported to a local hospital.

All in all it was an unlucky period for some, but ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks said "for medics, it was very lucky that both taxis were empty when they collided as there would have been many more patients to deal with....possible fatalities"

Mangled Pedestrian on Highway

Only a torso was left after multiple cars collided with a pedestrian on the N1 highway at the Maraisburg on ramp.

At about 01h30 paramedics received a call for a motor vehicle accident on the highway. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they only found a white vehicle at the Gordon off ramp with a smash to the front.

Paramedics soon discovered that a pedestrian was hit about a kilometer up the road. Ambulances and response vehicles returned up the highway where they found the mangled body spread across the highway.

The body was so mangled up that only a torso could be partially identified. All three lanes of the highway was covered with human debris.

The highway is extremely dark and made it almost impossible to see the body in the road.

No one in the car was injured. We closed off the highway and Metro Police and the Investigation Unit attended to the scene.

No identification was found on or near the body.

It appears that the pedestrian tried to run across the road when he/she was struck by the car.

Man Ejected from Car

A young man is lucky to be alive after he was ejected from his car during a crash.

Paramedics were called to the scene on Spencer Road next to the Golf Course where a silver car overturned. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found a young man lying a couple of metres away from his wrecked car.

The man was in an obvious serious condition. It was soon discovered that the man sustained serious injuries, including fractures.

Fortunately paramedics found his wallet lying next to him and found a medical aid card in the wallet. He was stabilized on the scene and rushed off in an ER24 Ambulance to the Life Flora Clinic where he received specialized treatment.

He was in a critical, but stable condition on the scene. Paramedics from Clinix assisted on the scene.

Cash Heist in Bopalong

It rained bullets at a local filling station in Bopalong earlier this afternoon when armed robbers robbed a Fidelity cash vehicle.

At approximately 12h20 a Fidelity cash van stopped at the Shell Garage on the Golden Highway at Bopalong to collect cash. Shortly after they stopped, gunmen opened fire at the guards, injuring two.

One of the guards is in a critical, but stable condition after he was shot in the stomach and his partner in the arm. Paramedics stabilized them both on the scene and rushed them off to the MediVaal Hospital where they will receive specialized medical treatment.

It is not sure if the robbers got away with any money. The Vaal Rand Police will investigate the incident.

No one else was injured during this shoot-out.

Boerboel Rushed to Hospital by Ambulance

ER24 Emergency Services received a call via the emergency line at about 07h15 of a man that collapsed in a street in Bosmont.

According to the call taker, there was a lot of screaming in the background. Paramedics were dispatched to the location given, only to find a completely different scenario.

Paramedics were shocked to find a tan-colored Boerbull hanging by its testicles from a palisade fence in the front yard of a house.

According to the home owners, they heard a dog howling at about midnight, but it soon stopped. The dog was in a very bad shape and in obvious pain. He lost a lot of blood and vomited. He was hanging with is head down.

Paramedics tried to remove the dog from the fence, but he was so stuck that they had to use a surgical blade to cut him loose from the fence. With a veterinarian on the phone line, the paramedics were guided into saving this dog's life. After the dog was cut loose from the fence, paramedics gave him oxygen, put up a drip and rushed him off to a waiting veterinarian at the Roodepoort SPCA.

The dog was treated in the back of the ambulance and rushed to the SPCA whilst the doctor guided through specialist care for the K9.

It is not clear why the dog got stuck on the almost one and a half meter fence. According to the home owner, the dog does not belong to them, but might be one of the neighbours'. It was also mentioned that this is not the first time dogs came into their yard, as they have a big hole in the fence and no one understands why the dog didn't use the hole to go out again. It never bothered them that dogs go in and out of the yard.

On arrival at the Roodepoort SPCA the veterinarian waited for the dog and gave him morphine. It is understood that the dog will undergo emergency surgery.

The ambulance booked unavailable after the call and was taken to a decontamination area at the base where it was cleaned and re-sterilized before a human patient will be transported.

Freak Accident Kills One, Injure Another

A freak accident killed a man this morning and left another in a serious condition.

Four men travelled on the back of a blue bakkie down North Boulevard in Bruma when the incident occurred. It is believed that two men were standing on the back of a bakkie when the bakkie travelled underneath a 2.1 meter height restriction sign. A cross bar enforcing the height restriction collided with the two men standing, killing one of them instantly. The man that was killed sustained major injuries to his head and face. His fellow occupant who was standing next to him at the time, was also hit by the cross bar. He sustained serious injuries to his head and was transported per ambulance to the Bedford Garden Hospital.

Two other occupants - who was also on the bakkie at the time - was sitting when the incident occurred. They did not sustain any injuries, but were clearly traumatized by the event. The driver of the bakkie - believed to be the deceased's brother was also in shock and treated on the scene. The man was declared dead by Netcare.

All of the remaining occupants were transported to hospital where they will receive trauma counselling and further medical assistance.

According to a bystander on the scene, all of the occupants work at the East Gate Shopping Centre and is doing contract work.

The exact cause for the accident is not clear. The Johannesburg Metro Police's Accident Investigation Department will investigate the accident. The SAPS opened a docket on the scene.

At the time, it was not clear if the two standing occupants were standing on the side of the bakkie or physically inside the load compartment when they were hit.

The driver of the bakkie only realized what had happened a few metres down the road and pulled onto the side of the pavement.

Paramedics and Rescue Services were immediately contacted to assist. ER24 and Netcare attended to the scene.

Dicing Taxis Cause Crash

Paramedics attended to an accident yesterday that could have resulted in multiple and serious injuries and possibly have been prevented.

According to eyewitnesses and bystanders on scene, two Hi-Ace taxis were dicing on the M1 Highway just after the Riviera on ramp. It is believed that a white taxi was traveling in the emergency lane and a red taxi in the slow lane. According to the witnesses they tried constantly to overtake each other and swerved towards each other.

Seconds later the two taxis collided when one of them got too close to the other one. Both of the taxis collided with each other causing one of them to overturn in the middle of the highway whilst the other one spun off into the fast lane.

Two civilian vehicles, a black Citi Golf and a grey VW Jetta was travelling behind the taxis. Trying to avoid the collision between the two taxis, the two civilian vehicles collided with each other in the fast lane.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, the driver of the white taxi crawled out of his vehicle crying. He sustained multiple abrasions to his body, but no serious injuries. A pregnant lady in the Jetta was also assessed on the scene as well as a mother and her son in the Citi Golf. Fortunately they did not sustain any injuries, but were assessed on the scene for shock. Both parties declined ambulance transportation.

The driver of the taxi that overturned was transported in a stable condition to the Hillbrow Clinic.

The driver of the taxi that spun off into the fast lane, had harsh words towards the driver of the white taxi. Bystanders soon joined in and tried to get answers from the drivers why they acted so recklessly.

The scene was cleared quickly and the highway was opened about 20 minutes later. Metro Police also attended to the scene. The highway was backed up passed Empire Road in the direction of Sandton. Onlookers on the opposite side of the highway also slowed down to have a look.

It is not certain if Metro Police opened a docket against any of the drivers. Fortunately none of the taxis were carrying any passengers at the time.

Six Injured in Pinehaven Crash

A woman had to be rescued from the wreck of her car this afternoon after she was involved in a serious collision at the Pinehaven crossing in Krugersdorp.

A collision between a bakkie and a sedan resulted in six people, including two six year old children, being injured at this intersection. It is believed that the two vehicles collided and smashed the sedan on the passenger side. A woman who was sitting in the front passenger seat, had to be rescued by the West Rand District Municipality with the Jaws-of-Life.

The driver of the vehicle was freely removed and immobilized on the scene. All of the occupants were transported to the Krugersdorp Private Hospital.

ER24, West Rand District Municipality and Netcare attended to the scene.

Mangled Pedestrian on N1

Only a torso was left after multiple cars collided with a pedestrian on the N1 highway at the Maraisburg on ramp this morning.

At about 01h30 paramedics received a call for a motor vehicle accident on the highway. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they only found a white vehicle at the Gordon off ramp with a smash to the front.

Paramedics soon discovered that a pedestrian was hit about a kilometer up the road. Ambulances and response vehicles returned up the highway where they found the mangled body spread across the highway.

The body was so mangled up that only a torso could be partially identified. All three lanes of the highway was covered with human debris.

The highway is extremely dark and made it almost impossible to see the body in the road.

No one in the car was injured. We closed off the highway and Metro Police and the Investigation Unit attended to the scene.

No identification was found on or near the body.

It appears that the pedestrian tried to run across the road when he/she was struck by the car.

Ejected from Car, Lucky to be Alive

A young man is lucky to be alive after he was ejected from his car during a crash this morning.

Paramedics were called to the scene on Spencer Road next to the Golf Course where a silver car overturned. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found a young man lying a couple of metres away from his wrecked car.

The man was in an obvious serious condition. It was soon discovered that the man sustained serious injuries, including fractures.

Fortunately paramedics found his wallet lying next to him and found a medical aid card in the wallet. He was stabilized on the scene and rushed off in an ER24 Ambulance to the Life Flora Clinic where he received specialized treatment.

He was in a critical, but stable condition on the scene. Paramedics from Clinix assisted on the scene

K9 Gets Help from Ambulance

ER24 Emergency Services received a call via the emergency line this morning at about 07h15 of a man that collapsed in a street in Bosmont.

According to the call taker, there was a lot of screaming in the background. Paramedics were dispatched to the location given, only to find a completely different scenario.

Paramedics were shocked to find a tan-colored Boerbull hanging by its testicles from a palisade fence in the front yard of a house.

According to the home owners, they heard a dog howling at about midnight, but it soon stopped. The dog was in a very bad shape and in obvious pain. He lost a lot of blood and vomited. He was hanging with is head down.

Paramedics tried to remove the dog from the fence, but he was so stuck that they had to use a surgical blade to cut him loose from the fence. With a veterinarian on the phone line, the paramedics were guided into saving this dog's life. After the dog was cut loose from the fence, paramedics gave him oxygen, put up a drip and rushed him off to a waiting veterinarian at the Roodepoort SPCA.

The dog was treated in the back of the ambulance and rushed to the SPCA whilst the doctor guided through specialist care for the K9.

It is not clear why the dog got stuck on the almost one and a half meter fence. According to the home owner, the dog does not belong to them, but might be one of the neighbours'. It was also mentioned that this is not the first time dogs came into their yard, as they have a big hole in the fence and no one understands why the dog didn't use the hole to go out again. It never bothered them that dogs go in and out of the yard.

The ambulance booked unavailable after the call and was taken to a decontamination area at the base where it was cleaned and re-sterilized before a human patient will be transported.

Fire Tunics for University Johannesburg Ndip EMC

It was a combination between a sad story and a memory that will keep paramedics safe not just in mind, but physically as well. ER24, Cell C and Medi-Clinic sponsored a total of 16 Fire Tunics to National Diploma Paramedic Students of the University of Johannesburg.

The word tunic comes from the latin word tunica and it was the common masculine garment of the Greco-Roman civilisation. In Ancient Greece, a person's tunic was decorated with various colours and was used to identify the person in the city he lived in or the rank he assumed.

In modern days the tunic has adapted many forms. One such form is the Fire Tunic which Firemen and Paramedics wear to keep them safe during hazardous rescue operations.

Late Albie Greyling (1981/02/24 - 2007/02/02) saw the need for tunics for him and his classmates. Albie was a final year paramedic student at the University of Johannesburg when he approached Medi-Clinic for a possible sponsorship of jackets for the final year students. On the 2nd of February 2007, Albie was murdered by alleged robbers outside his mother's home in Pretoria. It is believed that he walked in on a house robbery that went horribly wrong.

Being a student, it is difficult to fund a tunic of such a high standard yourself. One jacket ranges between three and five thousand rands, depending on the intended use of the jacket and sometimes rank.

Medi-Clinic agreed to a joint sponsorship between ER24 and Cell C. A week before Albie's death, the sponsorship was approved. Role players tried to get hold of Albie to convey the good news, only to receive bad news in return.

Albie's death sent shock waves through the EMS community and fellow classmates.

The sponsorship was turned into a tribute to Albie. On June the 22nd, 16 Anti-hazardous Fire Tunics was handed over to the final year paramedic students. As tradition holds, the jackets were handed over at a ceremony held at the head office of ER24. Each Fire Tunic has the name and rank of the student embroided on the chest along with the University's logo on the opposite side.

Paramedics are mere instruments of God. Our hands and arms are instruments, therefore you will find Albie Greyling (1981/02/24 - 2007/02/02) embroided on the right sleeve of the Fire Tunic.

We trust that each tunic will be put to excellent use and will reflect the bond that the EMS (Emergency Medical Service) family has.

(NOTE: Not all of the students are featured in this photo.)