Durban skateboarder left in critical condition after fall

A young skateboarder was critically injured on Thursday after he fell while skateboarding in Glenashley, north of Durban.

THE MAN WAS PLACED ON A MECHANICAL VENTILATOR TO ASSIST HIM WITH BREATHING

According to Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen the fall happened on Thursday afternoon. 

“Emer-G-Med paramedics together with Netcare911 responded to Maryland Avenue in Glenashley, north of Durban. 

“On arrival on the scene, a male patient believed to be approximately twenty years of age was found lying on the side of the roadway.” 

Van Reenen said bystanders reported the man was skateboarding when he fell and injured himself. 

“Further investigation and assessment revealed the man to have suffered a head injury, and he was found in a critical condition.”

He said advanced life support intervention was needed to stabilize the man.

ALSO READ: Shocking! A 13-year-old boy was shot in Phoenix and left for dead

“The man was stabilised before he was placed onto a mechanical ventilator to assist him with breathing and transported rapidly by ambulance under the care of an Emergency care practitioner to a nearby hospital for immediate definitive care.” 

Meanwhile, also on Thursday, a 13-year-old boy was shot and critically injured in Phoenix. 

According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) spokesperson Prem Balram the incident happened around 09:31 on Thursday.

“A member of RUSA was on patrol in the area when he noticed the teenager bleeding excessively from an injury to his right thigh.

“He immediately requested assistance from RUSA Medics, who arrived on scene shortly after that.”

ALSO READ: Just in! Bullet riddled vehicle rolls on N2, driver shot and killed

Balram said a twelve-year-old male who was assisting the injured teen informed Reaction Officers that they were both grade 10 pupils at a school in Ntuzuma, KZN.

“He went on to explain that his friend had robbed a scholar of her cellphone on Ferham Drive and was fleeing the scene when four men in a white VW Polo fired multiple shots at him.

“One bullet penetrated his thigh, causing him to collapse. The occupants of the VW Polo retrieved the cellphone from him and left him for dead on the pavement.”