A Cape Town traffic officer is being praised for his swift and decisive actions after helping save the life of local ward councillor Sue van der Linde during a medical emergency on the N1.
Van der Linde shared her experience this week, describing how she suddenly became critically ill while driving on the freeway and lost consciousness behind the wheel.
“There are moments in life when seconds truly matter — and one of those moments happened to me,” she said.
According to Van der Linde, she had been driving on the N1 when she blacked out. After briefly regaining consciousness, she managed to pull her vehicle into the emergency lane before passing out again.
Officer springs into action
Traffic officer Anathi Ndyalvan had been stationary nearby in the yellow lane and immediately came to assist after Van der Linde contacted the City’s emergency call centre.
“He recognised that this was a serious medical emergency,” she said.
Van der Linde explained that an ambulance was flagged down, but it was a returning vehicle carrying only the driver and no paramedic staff.
“She did what she could, but time was ticking,” Van der Linde said.
Faced with the urgency of the situation, Ndyalvan made what Van der Linde described as a life-saving decision.
“Instead of waiting for an ambulance, he made the brave decision to get me to hospital himself. That decision quite literally saved my life,” she said.
Stroke treatment received just in time
Doctors later confirmed that Van der Linde had suffered a stroke and arrived at hospital just in time to receive a clot-buster injection.
“Doctors later confirmed that I had suffered a stroke and that I arrived just in time to receive the clot-buster injection that prevented what could have been a devastating or even fatal outcome,” she said.
She also praised the professionalism and calm response of the City’s Emergency Call Centre staff, saying they acted efficiently and compassionately during the emergency.
“They acted as the vital bridge between the available emergency services and the young officer on the ground assisting me,” she said.
Praise for emergency services
Van der Linde said the incident highlighted the important role played daily by Cape Town’s traffic services, metro police and law enforcement officers.
“These men and women are often the first on scene in emergencies and are frequently the only force standing between residents and a terribly understaffed and under-resourced police environment,” she said.
She described Cape Town as a “City of Hope” and expressed deep gratitude to Ndyalvan for his actions.
“To officer Anathi Ndyalvan: thank you will never be enough. Your quick thinking, compassion and decisive action gave me a second chance at life, and I will remain forever grateful,” she said.
Van der Linde added that the experience had left her more proud than ever to serve residents as part of the City’s caucus leadership.
ALSO READ: Ward 113 councillor tackles crime, infrastructure and voter drive
