Police spokesperson, Peter Kareli, says Const. Lorthian Campbell heard of the incident in the Navalsig area on the police’s radio network yesterday afternoon. Community members who were in the vicinity, ran to assist the girl and alerted police after it is alleged that the girl, who was playing with her friends at the quarry, accidentally fell into the water. ER24 spokesperson, Annine Siddall, says local police alerted ER24 paramedics to the incident. According to Kareli, Campbell was on duty and about to leave the station in a police vehicle just before 15:00. Campbell did not hesitate to rush to the Milkgrey Farm where the incident took place.

Upon his arrival, Campbell learned from community members gathered at the quarry that a nine-year-old girl had disappeared underwater about 10 minutes before his arrival. Campbell took off his uniform and dived into the shallow water.

According to Kareli, Campbell managed to bring the girl’s body to the surface after just 12 minutes being in the water. Paramedics attended to her and provided the girl with advanced life support interventions for about 40 minutes. She was unfortunately declared dead at the scene.

Kareli is of the opinion that if Campbell did not have to search for the girl in a large body of water, she could have survived. Despite the fact that Campbell fell short of saving the girl, his effort is well applauded as he is always willing and ready to act when there are incidents of drownings in the Bloemfontein area.

An inquest has been opened by the police.

The name of the girl has not been released yet.

OFM News