I am amazed on a daily basis during my perusal of the Cape Times at the high number of near and sometimes actual drownings during this supposedly festive period. Unfortunately they are often the victim's own fault, but are also circumstantial, and all very sad and traumatic. Full marks to teenage surfing star Tanika Hoffman who braved the waves to rescue a little girl off Glen Beach at the end of last year, though she was torn between which person to attempt to save and had to make a snap decision. My thoughts and condolences to the Hoosain family on their tragic loss.
The real heroes and heroines of our city are the rescue and emergency personnel, who work over public holidays, away from home and family, to be ready to cope with all manner of crises. In Cape Town this encompasses so much, that the scope of their work covers a very broad base. When we passed a previously mentioned accident on the N2 just before the airport on Old Year's Eve, the traffic police were on hand slowing down traffic, advising us when we crawled passed them in blistering heat, (oh to have had a cool drink or two handy to pass out to them) trying to prevent further collisions in the fast lane, whilst the ambulance crew dealt with a grisly and very unpleasant scene. In Hermanus itself, early on New Year's morning when we went to take our dip in the tidal pool, there was a huge show of force, helicopters, rescue boats and ambulances at the ready for a day of revelry and inevitable tragedy as people headed for the beaches and mountains en masse. We left early, so I hope they didn't have too much trauma with which to cope.
Back in Cape Town our fire fighters, shark spotters, traffic and South African police forces, ambulance crews, Mountain Men and hospital personnel are all working and on standby for any disaster, large or small which this city may befall. These are never easy, often dangerous and distressing, and seldom well enough paid jobs which people selflessly do.
From Suzy Q - thank you!
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