MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A De Heus employee who fell more than six metres into a silo pit at the company’s Kleinberg branch outside Mossel Bay has been discharged from hospital following a multi-agency rescue operation.
The incident occurred on Tuesday 8 September while the employee was carrying out a scheduled cleaning activity inside the silo tower complex.
According to De Heus spokesperson, August Lingau, the man was cleaning a platform approximately 2.2 metres above ground level when he fell into a silo pit about 6.2 metres below ground level.
The Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services, additional local ambulance services and De Heus’ own health and safety personnel launched a joint rescue operation to evacuate the employee from the silo pit.
“Due to the patient’s location, the rescue operation involved both confined-space and high-angle rescue capabilities,” said the Mossel Bay Municipality.
The man sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment. He was discharged later that day.
De Heus is continuing to investigate the exact cause of the incident, said Lingau.
The company, whose Kleinberg branch is located 20km outside of Mossel Bay, expressed its appreciation to the emergency responders involved in the employee’s rescue and for their swift response at the time of the incident.
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