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Who Dares Wins
STORY 1
By Piet Allen
This was 6 Recces first operation after migrating to South Africa. The first attempt was aborted during the cross-border infiltration through the bush when WO Johnny Masson was swept off the back of the 10-tonne vehicle he was travelling on, by a branch, injuring his back. I was also on that vehicle as the 14,5mm gunner.
This attempt was aborted due to Johnny’s medical evacuation. He was evacuated by road to a suitable airstrip within South Africa, then airlifted by fixed wing to the old Airport and Air Force Base near the Bluff. There was a medical orderly awaiting the arrival of the aircraft to transfer Johnny to Addington Hospital in Durban.
This orderly had his girlfriend with him, so was ready to impress her with his medical and driving prowess driving to the hospital. This is when the comedy of errors began.
On loading the patient into the back of the ambulance he failed to secure the gurney securely. There was no orderly in the back of the ambulance to monitor the patient, the orderly with girlfriend sitting rather close, sped off with lights flashing towards Durban.
This must have been rather uncomfortable for the patient as during the high speed turns the gurney slid from side to side in the rear of the ambulance.
On arrival at the hospital Johnnys dilemma did not end, the hospital staff declared that they could not admit him that evening that he should be taken home and brought back the following morning. Much to the medical orderlies’ delight, another chance to show off his skills to the girlfriend, the patient was loaded back into the ambulance and off they sped towards Amanzimtoti to drop Johnny at home for the evening.
The orderly decided that he would take the scenic route (Very romantic) so he turned off at the Prospecton Hyper off -ramp to follow the coastal road, this was late afternoon. This road being rather scenic overlooking the ocean had a number of steep hills to negotiate.
It was on one of these steep hills that the ambulance spluttered and stalled. It was at this point the unsecured gurney, had rolled to the back of the ambulance and was resting against the rear doors. Fortunately there was no traffic on the road, when the rear doors under pressure of the gurney with patient strapped down flung open allowing the gurney with patient to hit the road rolling down the hill.
The gurney went off-road and landed in the tree tops. His rescue from the treetops is another story……suffice it to say Johnny had a quiet night at home.
This attempt was aborted due to Johnny’s medical evacuation. He was evacuated by road to a suitable airstrip within South Africa, then airlifted by fixed wing to the old Airport and Air Force Base near the Bluff. There was a medical orderly awaiting the arrival of the aircraft to transfer Johnny to Addington Hospital in Durban.
This orderly had his girlfriend with him, so was ready to impress her with his medical and driving prowess driving to the hospital. This is when the comedy of errors began.
On loading the patient into the back of the ambulance he failed to secure the gurney securely. There was no orderly in the back of the ambulance to monitor the patient, the orderly with girlfriend sitting rather close, sped off with lights flashing towards Durban.
This must have been rather uncomfortable for the patient as during the high speed turns the gurney slid from side to side in the rear of the ambulance.
On arrival at the hospital Johnnys dilemma did not end, the hospital staff declared that they could not admit him that evening that he should be taken home and brought back the following morning. Much to the medical orderlies’ delight, another chance to show off his skills to the girlfriend, the patient was loaded back into the ambulance and off they sped towards Amanzimtoti to drop Johnny at home for the evening.
The orderly decided that he would take the scenic route (Very romantic) so he turned off at the Prospecton Hyper off -ramp to follow the coastal road, this was late afternoon. This road being rather scenic overlooking the ocean had a number of steep hills to negotiate.
It was on one of these steep hills that the ambulance spluttered and stalled. It was at this point the unsecured gurney, had rolled to the back of the ambulance and was resting against the rear doors. Fortunately there was no traffic on the road, when the rear doors under pressure of the gurney with patient strapped down flung open allowing the gurney with patient to hit the road rolling down the hill.
The gurney went off-road and landed in the tree tops. His rescue from the treetops is another story……suffice it to say Johnny had a quiet night at home.
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Who Dares Wins