A member of the military fell to the ground during roping practice at the Waterkloof air force base on Thursday, sustaining head injuries. He is in a critical condition.
“He was coming down a rope from a helicopter when he slipped and fell to the ground,” SA National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini told TimesLIVE on Friday.
The distance he fell is unclear at this stage.
“Gauteng Emergency Medical Service paramedics in collaboration with the SA Military Health Services medical team stabilised the injured member, who was flown in an air force Oryx helicopter to a hospital in Pretoria, where he underwent further procedures.
“The member has been stabilised but remains in a critical condition.”
The team was preparing for the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition this weekend.
On Thursday defence headquarters said in a statement: “The member was immediately airlifted to Montana Hospital for assessment by neurologists.
“Details regarding this incident are sketchy.”
Dlamini said: “The SANDF is pleading with members of the public and uniform members to respect and allow the injured member and his family the privacy they deserve during this difficult time.”
Note: This article corrects earlier information that the accident happened during an aerobatics practice. It was a roping exercise. We regret the error.
TimesLIVE
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Army member critically injured during rope practice for air show
Image: SANDF via Twitter
A member of the military fell to the ground during roping practice at the Waterkloof air force base on Thursday, sustaining head injuries. He is in a critical condition.
“He was coming down a rope from a helicopter when he slipped and fell to the ground,” SA National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini told TimesLIVE on Friday.
The distance he fell is unclear at this stage.
“Gauteng Emergency Medical Service paramedics in collaboration with the SA Military Health Services medical team stabilised the injured member, who was flown in an air force Oryx helicopter to a hospital in Pretoria, where he underwent further procedures.
“The member has been stabilised but remains in a critical condition.”
The team was preparing for the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition this weekend.
On Thursday defence headquarters said in a statement: “The member was immediately airlifted to Montana Hospital for assessment by neurologists.
“Details regarding this incident are sketchy.”
Dlamini said: “The SANDF is pleading with members of the public and uniform members to respect and allow the injured member and his family the privacy they deserve during this difficult time.”
Note: This article corrects earlier information that the accident happened during an aerobatics practice. It was a roping exercise. We regret the error.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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