27 September 2023: Three helicopters were dispatched yesterday to assist the Western Cape community adversely affected by the recent damaging storm.
Two Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS/AMS emergency helicopters, as well as an additional AMS spare helicopter, were dispatched yesterday to help flood victims as well as continue to provide emergency aero-medical services to the critically ill.
The helicopters assisted with the following missions:
•Two patients were extracted and airlifted to safety after being stuck on Jonaskop Mountain in the Villiersdorp area since
Sunday. Upon returning to its Cape Town base for re-fuelling, the helicopter was airborne to collect cargo in Robertson to provide critical food supplies to a cut-off farm near McGregor.
•While these flood relief missions were taking place, on two
separate missions, the Cape Town Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS/AMS rescue helicopter was dispatched to airlift two paediatric patients in a critical condition from Bredasdorp Hospital to Tygerberg Hospital.
•The Oudtshoorn Western Cape Department of Health & Wellness EMS/AMS rescue helicopter extracted four flood victims in the Meiringspoort area. Victims were unable to drive further as vehicles were caught between drifts as flood waters were blocking the road. The helicopter was also dispatched to supply critical food and water supplies to campers cut off by flood waters, campers included approximately 80 learners and teachers. The rain caused the Le Roux River which runs through the Cango Mountain Resort to overflow trapping them on the property.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been severely affected by the damaging storms. Sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the disaster management teams, emergency services, municipalities, communities, and all those involved for the coordinated effort to assist those in need.
#westerncapegovernment #westerncapedepartmentofhealth #westerncapefloods #westerncape #aero-medicalserviceprovider #proudlysouthafrican #leonardohelicopters
Images credit: Mornay Thyse, Oudtshoorn Fire Department, Graham Archibald, Leighchan Adams, Nina Hasse, Lindsey Cyster .
