Man fighting for his life after Guy Fawkes

Cape Town - A 38-year-old man is fighting for his life in Tygerberg Hospital after being burnt by firecrackers in Mitchells Plain.

The man, whose family has asked that he remain unnamed, was admitted to Tygerberg Hospital with burns on 70 percent of his body. He was in a critical condition and being ventilated, Health Department spokesman Mark van der Heever said.

The man was one of seven people admitted to public hospitals after being injured by firecrackers on Guy Fawkes on Monday night.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said this year’s celebrations had not resulted in as many complaints as previous years.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, however, said they were kept busy with scores of animals needing rescue.

Two children underwent surgery after fireworks exploded in their hands.

Margaret Cooke and her family were at Mnandi Beach, one of the city’s designated areas. She said she had turned her back for a second and her son Jezreel, 11, had lit a rocket which exploded in his hand.

They rushed him to the Mitchells Plain Day Hospital and he was transferred to the Red Cross Children’s War Memorial Hospital. Two fingers on his left hand were severely injured and he underwent surgery on Tuesday.

Nine-year-old Ashley Samuels, of New Tafelsig, was also admitted to Red Cross. He was at the Swartklip sports field to take part in the festivities when a rocket exploded in his hand. Paramedics treated him on the scene before transferring him to Red Cross.

Van der Heever said seven patients were admitted to Tygerberg Hospital and Red Cross with injuries they sustained while operating firecrackers.

Tygerberg Hospital admitted four patients, the critically injured 38-year-old man, an 11-year-old boy who underwent surgery on his left hand, and a 13-year-old boy injured in both eyes. An 11-year-old girl is in a stable condition after her right index finger was injured.

Smith said paramedics had treated three patients for burn wounds.

The SPCA’s Moyo Ndukwana said they had been inundated with calls from pet owners saying residents were setting off fireworks in residential areas.

Eight SPCA inspectors and two call centre controllers were on duty and received over 40 calls relating to fireworks on Monday night up until the early hours of on Tuesday morning.

“From these calls, seven animals in distress needed to be rescued, and a further six dogs and one kitten was admitted to the SPCA’s hospital in Grassy Park by members of the public,” Ndukwana said.

“The SPCA’s lost and found department received 43 calls from owners reporting their dogs missing or from people who found scared, lost dogs in areas such as Grassy Park, Lotus River, Muizenberg, Athlone, Brackenfell and Kraaifontein,” he said.


- Cape Argus/IOL