Durban - The woman in labour who died after the ambulance taking her to a Zululand hospital crashed was let down by the people who were supposed to help her, says her sister.
Lungisile Zwane, 24, died earlier this month when a Department of Health 4x4 ambulance, in which she was being taken to the eDumbe Community Health Centre (CHC), went down an embankment.
Her sister, Nomusa Vundla, said she had been told by two men who had gone to her sister’s aid that she was not positioned properly after the crash.
“Two guys who went to the scene found her still breathing but seated in a wrong position for someone who was pregnant. They went to the nearest police station to report the incident only to find out she had died at scene when they came back.”
Vundla said she had last spoken to her sister at 9pm on November 14 when she phoned her to ask for an ambulance. It arrived at about midnight.
“I could not keep in touch because she did not have a phone. We only received news that she died at 5.30am.”
She blamed the paramedics who crashed the vehicle, saying they failed to treat her sister after the crash.
“She was the only breadwinner at home. She loved helping the poor and those who needed special care so much that she wanted to enrol in nursing.
“I am hurt about how she died. You have high hopes when someone is being taken by an ambulance because you know that person is in safe hands. I feel the paramedics gave up on her life,” said Vundla.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health was asked to comment about the condition of the paramedics and their injuries, but they declined.
Zwane leaves behind a 4-year-old son.
Vundla said the family wanted to take legal action against the department, but had not yet contacted the Road Accident Fund to lodge a claim.
The department said: “The patient was in labour. Whilst en route in the heavy mist and rain, the ambulance came off the road and went down the embankment.
“The paramedics, a 33-year-old woman who was driving, and a 33-year-old man who was with the patient, sustained injuries. They were transported to Dumbe CHC and Vryheid Hospitals.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said: “We can confirm an incident that took place on Nkambule Road where an ambulance driver lost control of the vehicle. A 24-year-old woman who was in the back died on scene. A case of culpable homicide was opened.”
Zwane has been laid to rest at her home in eDumbe.
On Thursday, the Daily News sent a number of questions to the department, and requested details about the condition of the paramedics.
The department was also asked to address claims by Vundla that the paramedics had failed to adequately help Zwane and that she was left in a position unsuitable for a woman in labour.
Department spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi offered condolences to the family, but would not give any details.
“The department cannot comment on the merits and demerits of the unfortunate incident because it is under investigation.”
Daily News