“We are profoundly saddened, and our deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of our colleagues aboard Netcare 1 air ambulance, which was carrying a pilot and four healthcare personnel on board when it crashed near Bergville,” said Craig Grindell, managing director of Netcare 911.
It is believed that the helicopter spontaneously exploded mid-air, and the local fire department is on the scene to search for any bodies that may have been flung from the helicopter during the incident.
Five people have died after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal earlier. The passengers and pilot on board were transporting a Netcare machine from Johannesburg to the KwaZulu-Natal coast when the incident occurred. pic.twitter.com/UciF0Ky4mD
— Alert South Africa (@AlertZaAfrica) January 21, 2021
“The whole of Netcare falls silent as we bow our heads in tribute, respect, love and memory of our fallen colleagues and frontline heroes who have died in the line of duty,” Netcare said in a statement.
“There are no words adequate to describe our sense of profound loss and grief at this terrible time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”
