These brave, selfless, frontline heroes were on a mercy mission to save the life of a desperately ill patient dying of Covid-19 pneumonia.
But as we all know, a catastrophic tragedy occurred and they died tragically in the most devastating of accidents. This was their calling and they have answered the highest call. There is no greater act of humanity than to lose one’s life in attempting to rescue another.
We know God uses good people to do great things, and we need not look any further than these young, talented, extraordinary individuals who embody what it means to be a hero. Every day for them was an act of courage and they were the personification of strength, compassion and grace.
Supplied
Four healthcare workers and a pilot were killed en route to pick up a critically ill patient in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
The Health Professions Council of South Africa, the national Department of Health, and the Gauteng Department of Health all sent condolences to the families of those who died.
The cause of the crash is unknown and are being investigated.
The medical health fraternity continues to mourn the deaths of four Netcare health workers and a pilot who died in a helicopter crash in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, Dr Curnick Siyabonga Mahlangu, nurse Mpho Xaba, paramedic Sinjin Joshua Farrance, and pilot Mark Stoxreiter were on their way to Hillcrest, outside Durban, to transport a critically ill patient to Netcare Milpark Hospital when the helicopter crashed and burned in Bergville in the KZN Midlands.
Just before he died in chopper crash, Joburg doctor tried to save Mthembu Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane was one of five people who died when a Netcare medical helicopter went down on Thursday 22 January 2021 - 06:34 A Netcare 911 medical helicopter crashed near Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, claiming the lives of all five people on board. Image: Twitter / via @Abramjee
On Thursday morning, anaesthetist Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane was meant to leave Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital as part of a medical crew flying to Durban to transport a critically ill patient.
However, that flight was put on hold when the doctor called in to try to save the life of minister in the presidency Jackson Mthembu. Despite his best efforts, Mthembu succumbed to complications related to Covid-19.
They were Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, an anaesthetist; Dr Curnick Siyabonga “Sia” Mahlangu, a cardiothoracic surgeon; Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant – all from Netcare Milpark Hospital; Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911; as well as the pilot of the helicopter, Mark Stoxreiter, who worked for the National Airways Corporation.
“ it is with the greatest sadness to inform you that a Netcare helicopter crashed on route to KZN to collect a patient . Dr Siya Mahlangu, Dr Rudolph Mamonyane, Mpho Xaba, paramedic and two pilots all sadly passed away on scene. “ hawe ma pic.twitter.com/wPorjZiZ3s
defenceWeb
Written by SANews -
132
Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed that one of the Netcare health professionals who died in a helicopter crash near Bergville was called to save Minister Jackson Mthembu’s life.
Mthembu, 62, succumbed to COVID-19 on Thursday.
“One of the doctors who have passed away in the crash was actually called by a friend, Dr Paul William, to come and save Minister Jackson during a difficult time.
“He dropped the trip, he was supposed to go to KwaZulu-Natal, and his team waited, delayed his flight. He came back to [help Mthembu]. They came together with Dr Rudolph Mononyane, a cardiac anaesthetist, to do everything they could to support Minister Jackson and of course, unfortunately, as he was flying out he met a fatal accident,” Mkhize told Clement Manyathela on eNCA on Thursday.
Netcare releases names of five âhealthcare heroesâ killed in helicopter crash
By IOL Reporter
Share
Durban - Netcare has released the names of the âfive valued colleaguesâ who died in a helicopter crash near Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal earlier on Thursday.
Dr Richard Friedland, chief executive officer of Netcare, said: ââOur deepest sympathies are with the families, loved ones and colleagues of Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, an anaesthetist, Dr Curnick Siyabonga (Sia) Mahlangu a cardiothoracic surgeon and Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant, all from Netcare Milpark Hospital; Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911, as well as the pilot of the helicopter, Mark Stoxreiter who worked for National Airways Corporation.â
Two doctors, a nurse, a paramedic and pilot were killed in a helicopter crash in KZN.
The team were on their way to transport a critically ill patient to Netcare Milpark Hospital when the helicopter crashed in Bergville in the KZN Midlands.
The SA Civil Aviation Authority has sent a team of investigators to the scene.
The SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacca) has sent a team to the scene of a helicopter crash in KwaZulu-Natal that claimed the lives of four Netcare healthcare workers and a pilot on Thursday.
"The Accident and Incident Investigation team has been notified of an aircraft accident and have dispatched a team that is already on its way to the site of the crash," Sacca spokesperson Kabelo Ledwaba told News24.