LOUIS TRICHARDT – Rescue workers and medical personnel last week frantically struggled for more than an hour in a desperate race against time to safe the life of a young boy, five-year-old Abdullah Elliot, following a horrific accident on the N1 south.

The accident occurred just after 06:00 on Thursday (19th) some fifteen kilometres from Louis Trichardt.

Young Abdullah, together with his father, Mr Abdura Man (40), his pregnant mother, Mrs Jamila Elliot (27), and younger brother, Abraham Elliot (2), were travelling from Polokwane to Louis Trichardt when his father apparently lost control of their vehicle. The heavily loaded vehicle (a bakkie transporting construction material) capsized and skidded to a stop in the opposite traffic lane.

Shortly after the accident, two Air Force doctors and a nurse passed the scene of the accident and immediately stopped to lend assistance. They however had to wait for rescue personnel to free the injured family members by using the Jaws-of-Life, as they were pinned underneath the wreck of the crushed vehicle. At that stage it was confirmed that Mr Man was already dead with little hope of Abdullah surviving as his heart had stopped beating. He had suffered severe internal injuries.

Refusing to give in, the two Air Force doctors frantically continued treatment and literally brought young Abdullah back from the dead by getting his heart to beat again. He was then rushed to hospital, but sadly died along the way. Both Abdullah's mother and brother sustained minor injuries in the accident.