Fan dies after Springbok Test at Loftus Versfeld

A man died after falling into an open excavation following Saturday night’s Springbok Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, while three other people were also involved in incidents at the same site, prompting fresh questions about pedestrian safety around the stadium.

The fatal incident occurred on the corner of Lynnwood Road and Roper Street in Brooklyn after the Nations Championship match against Scotland on 11 July, as thousands of spectators made their way home.

Fatal fall after Test match

According to the Old East Safety Forum, the man, believed to be middle-aged, sustained fatal head injuries after falling into the excavation and striking his head on bricks at the bottom.

Members of the public, including off-duty doctors, nurses and trained first-aid responders, immediately entered the excavation and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before Advanced Life Support paramedics arrived on the scene.

Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, the man was declared dead at the scene.

Three more incidents at the same excavation

The Safety Forum said the rescue operation was complicated by three additional incidents in the immediate area.

An elderly man also fell into the excavation, sliding down the embankment before coming to rest against an exposed drainpipe.

A young man assisting rescuers then slipped and fell into the same hole while trying to help.

At the same time, a large crowd gathered around the edge of the excavation, causing sections of the surrounding ground to collapse and loose soil to fall onto emergency responders treating the victim below.

The collapse created further risks for both emergency personnel and members of the public.

Safety concerns raised

Following the incident, the Old East Safety Forum identified several shortcomings at the construction site.

It said sections of safety netting had collapsed and no longer acted as an effective barrier, while several physical barricades had become displaced and unsecured.

The organisation also highlighted poor street lighting, which reduced visibility for pedestrians leaving the stadium after dark.

According to the forum, safety measures protecting excavations appeared stronger closer to Loftus Versfeld but became less effective further along Lynnwood Road, with the excavation at Roper Street considered inadequately secured for the volume of pedestrians expected after a major sporting event.

Roadworks ‘not reflected’ in event planning

The Old East Safety Forum said it had reviewed the operational and traffic management plans ahead of the rugby match as part of its community safety deployment.

It claimed the road closures and ongoing construction work along Lynnwood Road were not reflected in the operational planning documents.

The forum said this was also evident when the Springbok team convoy was reportedly forced to divert through Brooklyn because of the road closure.

According to the organisation, these concerns were communicated informally to the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) before the match, but no revised operational plan addressing the roadworks or pedestrian safety was received.

Multiple agencies responded

Emergency personnel from several organisations attended the scene, including the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department, Netcare 911, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the TMPD, Interactive Security, members of the public, off-duty medical professionals and community responders from the Old East Safety Forum.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal incident are expected to come under further scrutiny as questions are raised over the safety measures in place around construction sites during major sporting events.

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