|
|
|
|
|
24 April 2026
|
Worker rescued after sand bank collapse at Ballito construction site, North Coast, KwaZulu-Natal
|
|
A man has been rescued after a sand bank collapsed at a construction site in Ballito. First responders say between 10 and 15 workers were on site at a house on David Place when the bank gave way on Wednesday morning, 22 April 2026. The construction workers saw the bank coming down and they were able to run from it. “Unfortunately, one worker was entrapped in the sand. They have managed to free him," said IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick. IPSS Medical Rescue, IPSS Search and Rescue, Kwadukuza Fire Department, CERT Tongaat and SAPS Search and Rescue
responded to the scene.
The operation was complicated by the instability of the bank, forcing teams to pause and in some reports, suspend work temporarily.
Meyrick says fellow workers and other rescue personnel acted quickly to dig him out. “[They used] predominantly their hands and spades. He was also under the treatment of advanced life support and it was a team from IPSS, construction workers on scene and the fire department who all worked very quickly to get him out.”
Meyrick says someone on a neighbouring property heard the collapse and called for help.
She says the man, who is in his 30s, needed advanced life support treatment. "He was in a lot of shock and pain. He is in a critical condition but stable. There are concerns of broken bones and, because he has been trapped under so much sand, there is concern of blood clots."
Rescuers spent over an hour carefully removing sand and stabilising the area to prevent further collapse.
Once freed, the injured man was stabilised at the scene before being transported to a specialist medical facility in Durban for further treatment.
KwaDukuza Municipality spokesperson Bridget Shange said the municipality was investigating and in the process of compiling a report.
Source: East Coast Radio, IOL, The Citizen
responded to the scene.
The operation was complicated by the instability of the bank, forcing teams to pause and in some reports, suspend work temporarily.
Meyrick says fellow workers and other rescue personnel acted quickly to dig him out. “[They used] predominantly their hands and spades. He was also under the treatment of advanced life support and it was a team from IPSS, construction workers on scene and the fire department who all worked very quickly to get him out.”
Meyrick says someone on a neighbouring property heard the collapse and called for help.
She says the man, who is in his 30s, needed advanced life support treatment. "He was in a lot of shock and pain. He is in a critical condition but stable. There are concerns of broken bones and, because he has been trapped under so much sand, there is concern of blood clots."
Rescuers spent over an hour carefully removing sand and stabilising the area to prevent further collapse.
Once freed, the injured man was stabilised at the scene before being transported to a specialist medical facility in Durban for further treatment.
KwaDukuza Municipality spokesperson Bridget Shange said the municipality was investigating and in the process of compiling a report.
Source: East Coast Radio, IOL, The Citizen
