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Man to sue over manhole fall
22/02/2008 09:25 - (SA)
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| Isgak Hendricks, 74, is visited by his wife Fatima as he recovers from his manhole ordeal in a Cape Town hospital. (Francois Nel, Die Burger) |
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Amy Johnson, Die Burger
Cape Town - A man who was seriously injured after he fell into an open manhole and was stuck there for hours, is suing the City of Cape Town for damages.
Isgak Hendricks, 74, from Parkwood near Grassy Park fell into a manhole at about 20:30 last Tuesday while he was on his way to a mosque. He plunged about three metres before his jersey got hooked to a thick pole in the hole. He hung there for nearly nine hours.
His wife Fatima said she became concerned when he was not home at midnight. "We phoned the police and all the hospitals. The police reacted quickly, but after hours of searching gave up."
She said her sons and sons-in-law continued searching. "When Rashaad (Hendricks's son) searched near the manhole in Goolhurst, Grassy Park, his father was saying his last prayer for the day. Rashaad heard it and followed the sound."
'Hysterical'
Mrs Hendricks said her husband was "hysterical" when they took him out of the hole. "Rescue staff battled for hours to get him out of the hole while he kept screaming."
Both his shoulders and his elbows were dislocated during the fall.
Hendricks, clutching a handkerchief, said he was a little better on Thursday. "The tablets keep the pain at bay," he said.
"He was very active for his age, and now everything must be done for him," said his wife.
She said he was terribly traumatised. "He screams in his sleep and is very tense. We can't afford counselling."
The manhole has since been closed.
Legal liability
Charles Cooper, a spokesperson for the City Council, said an investigation must be done before any compensation will be paid. "The determining factor is legal liability."
Pieter van Dalen, chairperson of Cape Town's copper theft unit, requested the public to report open manholes. He said stolen lids were a big problem.
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