Brave Bay firefighter’s rescue tale on TV tonight
THE Nelson Mandela Bay firefighter who is in the running to win a national competition which acknowledges emergency services personnel who go beyond the call of duty, will be profiled on television tonight.
Kwazakhele firefighter Abed Claassen is one of 16 semifinalists in the Centrum Guardian Project 2012, and tonight’s show will tell his heroic tale.
After each rescue worker’s story is highlighted, the public will vote to choose their favourite.
Claassen was nominated after saving a young boy in an overturned car near Missionvale in July last year while he was on his way home from work. He witnessed the aftermath of a car that skidded off the road and landed on its side in a marsh.
He waded through mud and reeds and pulled a six-year-old out. Unfortunately, he could not get back in time to save the boy’s father.
The show, hosted by TV personality Ruda Landman, airs at 10.10pm on SABC3.
To vote for Claassen, SMS “TENACITY” to 33123. Proceeds from votes will be donated to the Kwazakhele fire station. SMSes are charged at R1.50. Free SMSes do not apply. The competition runs to October 12.
Each semifinalist will receive R2 000. The winner, if an individual, will pocket R5 000, and a team R10 000. The winner’s base station will receive R55 000.