Lohatlha - A member of the South African National Defence Force was injured during a combat readiness exercise in Northern Cape, Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant-General Vusi Masondo confirmed on Thursday.
“We had a minor accident that happened where the helicopter took off before the rope was fully rolled up. As a result it hit one of the pathfinders on the leg,” Masondo told reporters.
“The report I have received is that the injury that he got is not very serious. He is able to walk. They have just checked him now. I am thankful of that because one of the reasons we invest so much in training because if we have to go to war, we won’t have mistakes like this.”
He said such mistakes can lead to “unnecessary loss of life”.
In full view of senior SA Army and Air Force top officials, several foreign military representatives and the media, the soldier was hooked on the rope of a departing Oryx helicopter which was whisking off an “injured” member during a combat simulation exercise.
Gasps of relief were heard from the crowd as the soldier disentangled from the rope which was dangling from the flying helicopter. Several soldiers and an ambulance rushed to the scene.
Exercise Young Eagle open day was held at the vast SA Army Combat Training Centre in Lohatlha.
The exercise is aimed at testing the combined might of the SA Army and the SA Air Force in a full scale air and land assault capability demonstration.
According to the SA Army, such an operation is vital in ensuring that the SANDF timeously responds to domestic and continental security challenges.
Numerous regiments including the 44 Parachute Regiment, 9 South African Infantry Battalion, 1 Special Services Battalion, 2 Field Engineer Regiment, 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Light Artillery Regiment, 1 Tactical Intelligence Regiment, SA Special infantry Capability, 1 Signal Regiment, 102 Field Workshop and 17 Maintenance Unit took part in the exercise.
ANA