Woman saved after 5hrs in shaft
Published: March 17, 2005
A 30-year-old woman who fell down a narrow mine shaft near the Marathon squatter camp in Primrose, Germiston, on Thursday was rescued just before 13:00, emergency services spokesperson Johann van den Heever said.
Patricia Nzimande was found at a depth of 45 to 50m, deeper than emergency staff had originally thought. The opening of the shaft was half-a-metre across.
A solitary rescuer managed to reach the trapped Nzimande and strapped her into a safety harness and stabilised her.
Nzimande was then brought up to a depth of 20m where another rescuer was waiting, said Van den Heever.
He said that a full assessment was done on the young woman once she was brought to the surface and she was treated for a suspected pelvic fracture as well as head and chest injuries.
“She was fully conscious throughout and was very glad to see the sunshine again,” said Van den Heever.
The shaft is in the middle of an open patch of veld and surrounded by thick grass. It is suspected Nzimande inadvertently stepped into the opening about 08:00.
“A homeless person walking past heard her calling for help. He alerted people working in a main road who went to investigate. They also heard her shouting and then called the emergency services,” said Van den Heever.
He said that within 20 minutes they had a rescuer with her.
Nzimande was taken to Union Hospital in Alberton.
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