A toddler, who suffered fractures to both his legs in the recent Hilton horror crash, would have endured an agonising bus ride home to Gauteng after his discharge from hospital had it not been for the generosity of a private ambulance service.
Helping hands and the power of social media spared the three-year-old what would have been a painful return to his home in Lanseria.
The child was among dozens of people who were injured in the horrendous pile-up on the N3 two weeks ago, which claimed the lives of six people.
When uMngeni municipality councillor Kate Janse van Rensburg put out a Facebook appeal for assistance to buy three bus seats for Cleo de Lange and her injured son Ndalo, private ambulance service IPSS Medical Rescue offered to transport them from Pietermaritzburg to Gauteng at no charge.
The child would have required two seats to lie down as his injuries prevent him from sitting for six weeks.
IPSS spokesperson Samantha Meyrick told TimesLIVE Premium that they were touched by Ndalo’s story and wanted to save him from an “awful trip” back to his home.
Ndalo had compound fractures of both legs which required surgery and pins to be placed.
“This would have made it very difficult for him to sit up for long periods while healing.
When we saw the story, we knew going up in an ambulance would be the safest and most comfortable option.
— IPSS spokesperson,
Samantha Meyrick
“We came across his story on social media, as the DA councillor Kate Janse Van Rensburg and mayor Chris Pappas were looking to raise money to buy him a second seat on a bus, so he would have space to lie down.
“When we saw the story, we knew going up in an ambulance would be the safest and most comfortable option.
“Based on this we offered to transport them home.”
Meyrick said they were inspired by how people “had already come together to assist this family and knew we could make a difference.
“With the trauma we see every day, being involved in a happy ending is as beneficial to us as it for the family we helped,” she said.
Janse van Rensburg said in a Facebook update that the mother and son had arrived safely.
“A massive shout out to IPSS Medical Rescue for jumping to the appeal and offering to get Cleo and her chatty little boy home.
“When I met with Cleo at the hospital she had a glow ... The stress of the way home was lifted when Dylan and his team said they would get them home, and the cherry on top was all the gifts and toys for the trip.
“I can’t wait to hear of the healing process from Cleo in weeks and months to come. We know it’s a long road ahead ..,” said Janse van Rensburg.
De Lange was unavailable for comment.
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