A mountain biker extended a heartfelt “thanks” to community members who came to his rescue after a life threatening fall while toughing out a local trail.
Emergency personnel and first responders rushed to the aid of Sidney Harsant, who was seriously injured when he ploughed to the ground while riding his bike on the foothills of the mountain in the vicinity of Helderberg Farm this past Saturday (22 January).
According to information shared by Helderberg Crime Watch (HCW) patrollers were on the scene almost immediately after numerous calls of a mountain bike accident were received through their control room just before 09:00. The HCW controller alerted emergency services, including Immediate Medical ambulance services, Metro EMS and the City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services.
Rescue crews from Strand as well as two firefighters were dispatched to the scene around Helderberg Klein Plasie at 08:43, said Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City’s Fire and Rescue Services.
“When they arrived on scene the medical personnel from Immediate Medical Response was on scene,” he said. “The crews went up the trail with a private 4×4 vehicle to the scene of the incident.
“At approximately 10:24 they reached the patient who had suffered fractures to both arms and suspected head, neck and spinal injuries and was in a serious condition. The patient was stabilised and put in a stokes stretcher and taken down to the ambulance from where he was transported to a nearby hospital.”
After HCW published details of the incident on Facebook, Harsant commented on the post, saying: “ . . .Thanks to everyone involved yesterday [in] getting me off the mountain. I’m in hospital, had the operation done by [a doctor at a local private hospital]. Great guy and fellow cyclist. He’s very happy with how the operation went although it was not a easy one.
“Thanks for the concern and again to everyone that helped.”
Immediate Medical expressed their gratitude toward their advanced life support crew and emergency operations centre dispatcher, HCW, AM Security personnel, Metro Rescue, Fire and Rescue Services, and farm employees who called the incident and their efforts in coordinating resources and dedication toward Harsant.
