DURBAN - The family of Isipingo grandfather Nadesan Moodley, who turned 100 in January, say they are extremely grateful to the team that rescued him from his flood hit home.
Moodley, a grandfather of 10 children and six great grandchildren, was saved by one of the rescue teams by boat from Isipingo Beach on April 12, along with his daughter and son-in-law after their home flooded and they had no way of escape.
His granddaughter Kenita Govender said that the rescue team used a boat and had to break a window to get to her relatives.
“The house where my grandfather lives has been badly damaged by the flood, this also includes the inside of the house, furniture and two vehicles parked outside. I am just so grateful that my grandfather, aunt and uncle were rescued. My grandfather spent the night at Isipingo Primary School as we were unable to reach him because of the floods.”
Govender added that Moodley was now in her care at her home in Amanzimtoti.
“My aunt and uncle are also safe with family members. I am so grateful to the rescue teams and ward councillor Andre Beetge in Amanzimtoti who saved my grandfather. I posted in our area group that my grandfather is 100 years old and needed to be rescued in Isipingo Beach. Councillor Beetge did not hesitate and immediately contacted a rescue team to save my grandfather, aunt and uncle.”
Beetge, the councillor for ward 97 in Amanzimtoti, said he was glad that Moodley had been rescued.
“We were receiving so many calls from members of the community who said that they had families that were stranded in Isipingo and uMlazi and they needed help to rescue them. We had to help in any way we could. There were so many rescuers who used their own boats and people assisting with rescues.
“On the first day of the floods alone we must have rescued over five hundred people. I'm just so glad to hear that Nadesan Moodley was rescued. When we received that call there were so many other people that also needed to be rescued in the same area.”
Beetge said that among the areas where people had to be rescued were Isipingo Beach, Crab City and Prospecton.
“Driving in those areas was out of the question as water had completely flooded roads and came up as high as two metres almost submerging street light poles. The amount of rescuers we had clearly shows that not all heroes wear capes. I dispatched the teams but the rescuers deserve all the credit.”
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