KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna ER paramedic Jetreu Jacobs (39) was recently selected to represent South Africa at the World Rescue and Extrication Challenge in Portugal in November.
Jacobs was born in George (Conville) and will be one of only seven people representing South Africa in this prestigious competition.
He said from his teen years it had been his dream to become a paramedic.
"One day during an open day at my high school, the Provincial Ambulance Service visited the school.
"The paramedics drove a souped-up Toyota Conquest response service vehicle, which was fitted with a roller cage inside, and I immediately fell in love with the vehicle.
"From there onwards, each time I saw the vehicle respond to emergencies, my desire to become a paramedic grew stronger," he said.
Studies
"My parents could not afford to pay for my studies, and so it took me 18 years to become fully qualified, doing my modules part-time while working and volunteering with Emergency Rescue services.
"Today I can proudly say that I am an Advanced Medical Rescue Technician Paramedic."
His qualifications include a National Diploma in Emergency Care, which he completed in 2021 at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
He is now part of the two-member Knysna ER team. His most recent educational accomplishment is obtaining a drone pilot licence this year, to enhance assistance in search and rescue operations.
Post-Portugal, Jacobs' next goal is to complete a Post-Graduate Diploma in Emergency Care, which involves more in-depth paramedic training.
After that he will study for a master's degree in Emergency Medicine, which would enable him to be a "doctor on the road" and equip him with the know-how to provide all required medical attention during emergency rescue operations.
Experience
Aside from every day being part of a team that helps to save lives, he assisted in the 2017 Knysna Fires and at the scene of the N2 Engen Accident in 2022.
After the building collapse in Victoria Street, George, Jacobs was on-site, working around the clock for the first three days, before additional rescue teams arrived.
With back-up on-site, Jacobs was moved to the audio-visual technical rescue team using AV technology.
With this technology they were able to locate and rescue the last survivor, seven days after the collapse occurred.
This was a moment of revelation for Jacobs, reminding him to never give up, to hold on to hope. He said it "motivated us to continue going".
Jacobs remained on-site for the full two weeks that it took to recover all the deceased victims of the accident. While the worst part of the job is of course losing or being unable to rescue a life, he is glad that they were able to provide closure for the families of those who died.
Portugal
He requires requires R30 000 for the trip to Portugal, and he and his long-time colleague and friend, Mark Stevens, are actively looking for sponsorships to cover his expenses. For any enquiries contact Jacobs at 078 759 7992.
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