George’s Building Collapse: Firefighters Describe Rescue Mission

Helderberg duo Jermaine Carelse and Michael Gardiner prepared as part of a larger group of City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue technicians who were dispatched to the site of a building collapse in George, where rescue and recovery operations continued from Monday 6 to Friday 10 May.

Firefighters Jermaine Carelse and Michael Gardiner recall their harrowing experience during the rescue of a collapsed building in George that killed more than 30 people.
They describe arriving at a chaotic scene with emergency personnel coordinating efforts to locate victims trapped among layers of debris.
Despite the challenges, the team’s collective skills and compassion led to successful rescues, highlighting the resilience and commitment of South Africa’s emergency services.

“It was a complete shock to the system. The smell of dust in the air, the faint cries for help and the intensity of the operations were very overwhelming at first.”

These are strong words from Jermaine Carelse, who went on to say that nothing can truly prepare for what the team deployed to the scene of the collapse of a multi-story building in George will have to face. An investigation was reportedly launched after a tragic incident at a construction site on Victoria Street that left more than 30 people dead, with many survivors who remained trapped under the rubble.

The Sir Lowry’s Pass resident was one of two firefighters from the catchment area who were among a total of 10 City of Cape Town Fire Service technicians who heeded the call to assist with rescue and recovery operations on site from Monday 6 to Friday 10 May.

Rescuers were assisted by two fire trucks equipped with specialized search and rescue equipment, used especially in the event of structural collapses, and their task was to help find victims crushed under numerous layers of construction debris, while also assisting emergency personnel on the scene. They worked tirelessly around the clock to assist with rescue operations at the construction site before returning home after a 90-hour rescue mission.

Painting a picture

“Everyone was aware of the building collapse, but it was difficult to prepare for what happened to us when we arrived after midnight (on Monday),” Carelse recalled.

“There were a lot of emergency personnel working in various rescue departments, coordinating resources to ensure that as many rescuers as possible were simultaneously searching for trapped victims. Emergency lighting was installed to enable work day and night.”

Asked to paint a picture of the situation upon arrival, Carelse said:

“You could see and touch the slabs of this five-story building – separated by centimeters when everything collapsed. There were rescue dogs that sniffed out live victims and “corpse” canines that searched for those who had died; different emergency workers worked together towards a common goal. Large-scale machines lifted and moved rubble. Everyone fell silent almost immediately as the incident commander shouted, “Still,” and faint cries for help could be heard.

Apart from having a large amount of specialist equipment that could save lives and make an impact in an intense rescue scenario, a highlight for Carelse was being part of the success of the Worcester team who used acoustics to locate victims under meters of rubble. “The only trapped patient was successfully freed after a 13-hour rescue operation that included two separate entry points,” he said. “This was used to give him water through a PVC pipe, as well as safety glasses and sweets. The most humiliating experience was every time the victim was released and taken to the ambulance, everyone stood up and applauded – it truly was a moment that will be etched in my memory forever.”

Another Helderberg firefighter, Michael Gardiner, stationed at the Strand fire station, said the team used the wealth of their collective knowledge, skills and field experience to execute a well-thought-out plan of action and get the “job” done.

“Even though we had done our research and were prepared to act, we knew it would not be an easy task,” he said. “But we stuck with it, freeing trapped victims through cooperation with other emergency services and recovering bodies with the utmost integrity, and I commend all rescuers for their contribution to creating a positive atmosphere at the scene, where the emergency personnel community showed commendable compassion and an undying desire to go above and beyond the call of duty to help and assist. “

“The Single Most Tragic Event”

“It was great to work on the scene where you knew you could rely on a completely competent stranger to support you. Moreover, George’s community has been extremely supportive.”

Carelse shared this opinion.

“It was the most tragic event I have ever encountered and nothing can prepare anyone for such an event,” he added.

he said.

“All you can do is trust in your ability and that the next person will do the same. This experience once again increases the amount of expertise in South Africa and in the event of a disaster these individuals can be relied upon to form a formidable team.”

Carelse added that it is always an honor to represent not only the City, but also his home community. “It just goes to show that we can all make a difference, no matter where we come from or where we live.”

An important event for Gardiner was the need to amputate the arm of a trapped victim while awake to free him from the void and save his life – this was the first event in the life of the rescuer who devoted 29 years of service to this calling.

“I didn’t see him and had to follow his voice”

– he said.

“I kicked towards it but it was stuck. Under the supervision of a doctor on site, I had to amputate his partially severed left arm with scissors and extract the victim. The rescue procedure was successful and the victim is recovering in hospital.

“The need to amputate a limb to save his life, while alive, will always be with me.”

According to Gardiner, the rescue mission gave him a renewed appreciation for life, for who he is and what he does, “because everything can change in an instant.”

As a proud representative of the City and a distinguished technician called to assist in rescue operations, he implored the local community to trust the emergency personnel and rescuers who passionately risk their lives for the safety of others.