Helicopter Crash Doc Died Hours After Trying to Save Jackson Mthembu
- One of the victims of the horrific KZN helicopter crash has been identified as Dr Kgopotso Monoyane
- The fatal crash happened around Bergville in Kwa-Zulu-Natal and claimed all 5 lives that were on board
- According to reports, one of the victims, Dr Monoyane was one of the doctors that had tried saving Jackson Mthembu's life just hours before he too died
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One of the five victims of the fatal Bergville KZN helicopter crash that took place on the 21 January 2021, Thursday this week, has been identified as a young and esteemed Joburg doctor, anesthetist Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Monoyane.
The young doctor and four of his colleagues who have been identified as Dr Curnick Siyabonga Mahlangu, a cardiothoracic surgeon; Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant; Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911; and pilot Mark Stoxreiter who were responding to a call to pick up a critically ill patient in the KZN area when the crash occurred.
As the story unfolds, it has been discovered that Dr Monoyane and the rest of the crew were meant to leave hours early but were held back after Jackson Mthembu's health started deteriorating and Dr Monoyane was called to help another team of doctors save Mthembu's life.
Source: Twitter
According to a Timeslive article, Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize revealed this news while speaking about the crash that came hours after Minister Jackson Mthembu's passing.
“One of the doctors who has passed away in the crash was actually called by a friend, Dr Paul Williams, to come and assist to save minister Jackson during that difficult time," said Mkhize in a News24 article.
Briefly.co.za previously reported that in his statement, Ramaphosa said Minister Mthembu was an exemplary leader, an activist and lifelong champion of freedom and democracy. "It is with deep sorrow and shock that we announce that Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu passed away earlier today from Covid-related complications.
"He was a much-loved and greatly respected colleague and comrade whose passing leaves our nation at a loss. I extend my deepest sympathies to the minister’s family, to his colleagues, comrades and many friends,” Ramaphosa said.
Mthembu was 62 at the time of his death on Thursday. South African politicians flooded social media with messages of condolences: Herman Mashaba reminded South Africans that Covid-19 has no fear or favour.
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Source: Briefly News
