Jannie Meiring & Mamakgowa Rataemane
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Front right: Jannie Meiring
Back right: Mamakgowa Rataemane
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Plane Crash
August 24th at 13:55, Netcare 911 Ambulance Emergency Assistants Jannie Meiring and Mamakgowa Rataemane were dispatched to the scene of an airplane crash on the grounds of the Germiston Golf Club. The aircraft had taken off from the Rand Airport with three people on board and had crashed after experiencing engine failure. Upon arrival, Jannie and Mamakgowa found the plane 80% submerged in a sewerage ditch and leaking highly flammable fuel.
The pilot and co-pilot had their legs stuck between the seats and dashboards of the plane, and were subsequently stuck in the wreckage. The third passenger had died in the crash. The plane was lying at an angle and the pilot was hanging on top of the co-pilot, out of the side door. Their heads were underwater, and with effort they could just lift them up to breathe.
Immediately, Jannie ran and jumped into the water in order to lift the victims’ faces up so that they could breathe. Mamakgowa brought equipment to begin treating the men’s injuries, while the Rand Airport Fire Service doused the smoking wreckage. As more help arrived, Jannie and Mamakgowa assisted in cutting the victims free and they were taken to one of the banks for further treatment.
By putting the safety of others first, Jannie Meiring and Mamakgowa Rataemane are worthy nominees in the Centrum Guardian Project.
