Woman dies in runaway veldfire

One woman died and eight others sustained critical injuries after they got caught in a veldfire near Heidelberg.

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Johannesburg - One woman died and eight others sustained critical injuries after being engulfed in a veldfire close to the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve near Heidelberg.

Ekurhuleni emergency services spokesman William Tladi explained that the group were cutting the grass on Monday afternoon when they got caught in the fire.

“All the injured and the deceased were busy cutting the grass, which is used for thatch roofs,” he said.

They were working in the area near the reserve, which borders on the Lesedi municipality and Ekurhuleni metro.

The women tried to flee the runaway flames, but were unsuccessful and sustained burns.

“All the patients sustained facial and burn wounds on various parts of their bodies,” said Tladi.

Paramedics and firefighters were deployed to the scene and confirmed that one of the women had died.

Seven of them were taken by ambulance to the Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus.

The eighth woman was airlifted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto.

Tladi said all eight were in a critical condition and were being treated for extensive burn wounds as well as heat and smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire was still unknown, and the police have opened an inquest docket.

The Star