12/02/2026
๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ฌ๐ญ & ๐
๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ: ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐
You know itโs going to be that kind of shift when the radio doesnโt even let you finish your first sip of coffee.
Stage 6 vibes from the start. No breaks. No breathing space. Just call after call. The radio chirping like a hadeda that swallowed a referee whistle.
Phone rings.
โVehicle available? Accident on the R34 at the roadworks.โ
Me, with confidence I absolutely did not have, says, โYes.โ
Meanwhile all the crews are already out. Yoh. I basically volunteered myself. No backup. Just faith and flashing lights.
Before I even grab my keys, second call comes in.
โWe need more ambulances. My driver was involved. Multiple vehicles.โ
Now Iโm thinking okay sharp, this is not a bumper bash. This is a full committee meeting on the highway.
Then the group message drops. Confirmed entrapment. Need Fire.
Thatโs when your stomach just quietly says, here we go.
โMounties mobile with ALS.โ
At Fiveways the robot turns green just as I get there. Iโm telling you, that robot respected me. It saw the lights and said go well my boy.
Breakdown vehicle jumps in behind me. They know the drill. We head toward Nkwaleni and for a moment it feels like Fast and Furious, but sponsored by pothole awareness and budget constraints.
And let me tell you something. The road was smooth. Smooth. No potholes. I didnโt know how to act. I almost swerved out of habit.
We arrive. I park at the back so nobody thinks this is a quick squeeze through situation. Not today, chief.
Walk up to the crushed truck. Patient entrapped. We assist the medic already on scene. We try. But the injuries are too severe. And just like that, the jokes pause.
We shift focus. Other occupants assessed. More services arrive. The scene now looks like an emergency services open day.
I ask the truck driver what happened.
He says, โI was about to get out to relieve myself. Then I heard a bump. Then another one. But the second one was softer.โ
Then he laughs and says, โI was so shocked, my bladder empty. No need to go anymore.โ
Sir. That is trauma powered plumbing. Immediate results. No waiting period.
Ambulance leaves with the injured patient. Traffic stopped. Off they go.
Now itโs CSI Mounties time. Drone edition.
Battery gets swapped for a fresh one. Before sending it up again, we move all the other vehicles out of the shot. All the curious uncles with hazard lights on like they are part of the investigation. Gone. Move.
Drone goes up.
And suddenly the photos look calm. Empty. Quiet.
No chaos.
No flashing lights.
No panic.
Just damaged vehicles standing there politely like they didnโt just cause a whole afternoon of drama.
From above it looks peaceful. If you didnโt know better youโd think it was a truck commercial gone wrong.
Now earlier attempt. Yoh.
I reposition slightly.
Next thing.
Crash.
Boom.
Bang.
Down into the trees like it clocked out before I did. Remote screen goes dark. My heart also goes dark.
Obstacle avoidance was off. Why. Listen. I was tired.
I walk toward the tree and bystanders are already trying to grab it like itโs a Black Friday special.
Everyone shouting, โLeave it. Leave it.โ
Luckily only the propellers were damaged. I pull out spare props like I planned this. Quick change. Back in the air. We are not losing to a tree today.
Hardest part though. Extrication happening while family stands nearby watching. That humbles you quickly. You feel that one properly.
Eventually recovery pauses. The road reopens. Traffic flows again like nothing happened.
And of course, phones up. Full documentary mode. People driving past slowly collecting content for their WhatsApp groups.
Another day in emergency services.
Racing robots.
Fear activated bladder miracles.
Drone versus tree.
Turning chaos into calm aerial photos.
Ambulance life is not for the faint hearted. Sometimes you laugh because the alternative is sitting in silence questioning your life choices.
Drive safe, Mzansi.
Slow down at roadworks.
And please. We are not a roadside reality show.
Now Iโm officially off duty.