Heroine saves life of crash baby

OUT of the wreckage of a tragic accident emerged a good news story as the life of a seven-month-old baby was saved through public intervention.

The accident occurred on Tuesday on the R34 just outside Empangeni when a flatbed truck and a delivery lorry collided.

In the midst of the carnage in which five people lost their lives, a baby girl was picked up off the road by a fellow victim.

‘When I arrived on scene, I saw a man looking dazed and confused, wandering around holding the baby,’ said Candice Elsworth who works near where the accident took place.

‘I wanted to see if the paramedics needed any help or if they needed to make use of our premises for extra space.

‘I asked the man if the baby was his and he said that she wasn’t.

‘The little girl was covered in dirt, she had only one sock on and when I saw her, my maternal instincts kicked in.’

Potentially injured himself, Candice said the man looked very confused and disorientated and, seeing as the baby did not appear to even be breathing, she made the snap decision to take the baby to the nearest hospital.

‘I did not know who or where the baby’s mother was, or even if she was alive, and there was simply no time to try and find out as the baby was not moving at all, or even crying.’

Switching on her car headlights and hazard lights, Candice raced the baby to Life Empangeni Private Hospital where she was immediately taken into casualty and admitted to ICU.

While the baby was in a serious condition when admitted to hospital, she was soon stabilised, thanks to Candice’s prompt actions and the level of care from hospital staff.

The baby’s mother was tracked down to Ngwelezana Hospital where she had been admitted for her injuries.

She was discharged yesterday (Wednesday) and reunited with her baby.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:

WhatsApp – 072 069 4169

Instagram – zululand_observer