CRASH SURVIVOR’S EMOTIONAL REUNION
The 22-year-old survivor of a horrific multi-vehicle crash on the N3 last year has finally met the paramedics who saved her life.
Janine Francis, who had to have both her legs amputated after the massive 2023 Easter Monday accident, was filled with gratitude for the Midlands Emergency Medical Services paramedics, who met with her at her Chatsworth home.
It was an emotional visit as Francis and the paramedics chatted about the crash that claimed the lives of both her parents, Ralph and Michelle, as well as her brother Matthew Francis.
Three other people died in the multi-vehicle pile-up, while around 100 others were transported to various hospitals.
Janine told Village Talk it was important for her to meet the Midlands EMS crew as part of her healing and for reality to set in that the accident really did happen.
Despite losing her family and a part of herself, Janine is continuing with her life and has started sharing her story as part of her healing and motivation. She is also studying toward a Bachelor of Education in foundation phase at Stadio School of Education, formerly known as Embury Institute for Higher Education.
Janine is now trying to get used to using her prosthetic limbs after walking with stubbies, which she said was challenging.
“One day you can walk fine with them and the next you are in a lot of pain but I have to do it for myself. I have also started giving out my testimonies on what happened which was very emotional at first.
“Moving around the house is also challenging because it’s too small for my wheelchair and there are stairs. I get people to carry me down the stairs when I need to go somewhere or use the commode,” Janine said.
Looking back on the day her life changed forever, Janine said she remembers parts of what happened, but she mostly remembers Matthew Visser, a Midlands EMS paramedic who was with her at the accident scene until she was finally removed from the vehicle and taken to the hospital.
Janine remembers Visser protecting her from people who were trying to take videos of her stuck in the vehicle and the arguments they had when she wanted him to answer the phones that were ringing inside the vehicle that Visser couldn’t reach.
Visser said he walked to the scene as he couldn’t drive through and heard screams crying for help. He followed the voice since he couldn’t see clearly due to the bad mist.
He found Janine with her mother and brother, who were already dead in the vehicle. Her father was flung out the vehicle during the crash and also died at the scene.
“I stayed with her throughout the five-and-a-half hours. We couldn’t see her legs and where they were trapped. She was given drugs — more than a normal person should have — while we were trying to get her out by cutting the vehicle.
“I remember giving her a big dose to put her to sleep just before we removed her because I didn’t know if her legs had been broken and how much pain she’d feel,” said Visser.
He added it would’ve been better to save the whole family but they were glad to have at least saved Janine’s life.
Midlands EMS director Mark Winterboer told the family that after five hours of cutting through the vehicle, trying to get Janine out, they started to panic as they couldn’t get to her legs.
They decided to call Doctor John Bruce to amputate her legs at the scene but when he arrived, they managed to get her out the vehicle and rushed her to the hospital.
“When we arrived at the hospital, they actually said she was lucky to have a 10% chance to live. For someone to fight for fiveand-a-half hours, she had more than a 10% chance. The doctor wasn’t at the hospital and didn’t see how hard she fought.
“I said if she makes it, she will be a phenomenal person or become a motivational speaker and be successful because of what she went through,” said Winterboer.
Janine and her family had been in Durban for her brother, Matthew, to be baptised by his grandfather, Rogers Francis, during the Easter Weekend. The accident happened on their way back to Newcastle where they lived.
Her grandfather said they usually prayed and took pictures before Janine and her family travelled back after their visits but they didn’t take any pictures that day.
The family said they saw the accident on social media with no knowledge that their family members were part of it. Six hours later, they said someone finally answered one of the phones and told them what had happened.