Chef saves children just before roof collapses
Heroes often emerge during disasters, and the superstorm that wrecked much of Hazyview was not without its fair share of heroic stories.
Nabana Lodge was hosting a children's birthday party for about 30 kids aged between five and seven on Friday, when the storm struck late on the afternoon. Some parents managed to leave before the worst of the storm hit, but about 15 kids and their parents had no option but to take shelter and ride the storm out.
The lodge’s co-owner, Nicolette Valentyn, said the kids were all in the main boma area when the first tree fell on the thatched roof. This prompted executive chef and co-manager Floris Mostert to leap into action.
Mostert whisked all of the remaining kids up in his arms, and in a series of frantic dashes to safety, evacuated them all to the bar and kitchen, where they sheltered beneath the kitchen table. Many were crying in terror.
“I can’t tell you exactly how many kids I carried to safety at least 15, I think. We were in crisis mode and there was no time to count them," he said.
Valentyn said, “It was terrifying. I was separated from my own children. Mothers and children were crying while the storm raged. I believe Floris saved all those children who could have been crushed by the roof when the second tree fell on top of it.”
Her sister Yulani Cilliers confirmed that the storm cut a swathe directly through Matumi, Plumbago, the NG Kerk, Nabana Lodge, the Jungle Café and Hazyview Adventure Backpackers, all the way to Hazyview, destroying farmlands and crops on its way.
“This was more like a tornado than just a bad storm,” she said. "We immediately went into crisis management and after the kids were calmed and taken care of. We were able to move our Italian guests to alternative accommodation at my mom's farm for Friday night. We also had a party of German guests coming in, whom we have reaccommodated at our family home.”
Apart from the lodge for tourists, the Cilliers family also farms bananas, and about 50% of their current crop was decimated by the storm.
Mostert said, “I’m just glad no one was injured, and now we can get on with cleanup operations and start to rebuild damaged buildings and gardens.”
Nabana Lodge will be closed until further notice.
By Monday morning, water had been restored to most of the Hazyview area, although some suburbs and villages were still without electricity.