Three SANDF men die in lethal gas pit rescue

Selfless sacrifice to save workers

THREE SA National Defence Force members died as heroes yesterday when they leapt into a pit of methane gas to rescue workers conducting repairs to a storage pump in a pit about 5m deep.

Another 26 naval officers were also affected by the gas when they joined the rescue attempt and were taken to various hospitals around Durban.

The tragic incident at about midday yesterday was the third this week involving the deaths of military personnel, ahead of Armed Forces Day scheduled to take place on Tuesday at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Earlier this week, a military official died when a tank he was seated in, on top of a military truck, was in an accident on the way to Durban.

On Wednesday, a submarine lieutenant drowned while swimming at Battery Beach.

Last night, national Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant of fered her condolences to the families and friends of the victims of what has been described as a “freak accident” at the naval base.

SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Mafi Mogobozi said a full investigation by military police and SAPS was under way.

“It is understood that three uniformed members rushed to the pit to try and assist the Public Works members who were struggling to breathe underground.

“Unfortunately, the SANDF members who responded to the call to save their countrymen were exposed to high levels of methane and succumbed to the harmful gas.”

After the accident, social media went into overdrive, with many warnings being shared, including alerts of an explosion at the naval base, as well as requests by police in the area for people “to switch off their cell phones and abandon their vehicles”.

This could not be confirmed as KZN SAPS Media Centre referred all queries to the defence force.

By early afternoon, there was a massive traffic backlog into the Bluff area where the naval base is situated.

Military police were spotted stationed along various freeways.

Emergency services personnel who attended the scene were tight-lipped over details of the tragedy.

KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Services spokesperson Ceron Lennox, said: “At this stage the exact events leading up to the incident are unknown.”

Rescue Care spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said: “The place is under strict control.

“No media will be allowed into the naval base.”

ER24’s Russel Meiring said: “Rescue teams had already retrieved the bodies of six men from the sewer pit.

“Details surrounding this incident are not yet known, but local authorities are on the scene for further investigation.”

Last night, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Defence Secretary Dr Sam Galube and SANDF Chief General Solly Shoke expressed their condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, whose names have not yet been released.

The tragedy took place just after the armed forces had finished its final rehearsal of the display to take place this morning on Durban’s beachfront.

President Jacob Zuma is to receive the salute from the SANDF during a military parade.

This includes capablity demonstrations along the beachfront, as well as the public being able to visit naval vessels which are berthed in the port.

Noise alert for Durban and events: Page 2