A member of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) was injured after he fell approximately ten (10) metres down an unprotected excavation in Canelands – KwaZulu-Natal this morning (Saturday).
Reaction Officers were attending to a callout at approximately 03:09 where residents participating in a service delivery strike began looting a truck. Officer Smangaliso Dlamini (28) was monitoring the situation when he slipped into the excavation covered by overgrown vegetation.
The RUSA Member sustained a dislocated shoulder. Due to his injury, he was unable to climb out of the cavity. Firefighters from the Ethekwini Fire & Rescue Services and Rescue Technicians from Medi Response Ambulance Service set up a roping system before descending into the excavation. Dlamini was stabilised before being removed.
He was after that transported to Netcare Umhlanga Hospital by ambulance.
