01/09/2026
Man Steps into open manhole UmgeniPark, Durban
44-year-old man was rescued on Tuesday morning after allegedly falling into an open manhole on Browns Drift Road in Umgeni Park during the early hours of Monday evening.
The man is believed to have fallen into the uncovered manhole at approximately 20:00 on Monday. After becoming trapped below ground, he alerted passing members of the public, who raised the alarm.
Rescue teams were mobilised to the scene on Tuesday morning, where the man was found injured and unable to climb out. He had sustained a fracture to his left leg.
Marshall Security personnel, together with Metro Police Search and Rescue, the eThekwini Fire Department and other emergency and security resources, responded to the incident and assisted with the complex rescue operation.
Due to the depth and confined nature of the manhole, a mechanical winch was used to safely lift the injured man to the surface.
A section of Browns Drift Road near the intersection with Hunters Way was temporarily closed to allow emergency and rescue personnel to operate safely at the scene.
Once recovered, the injured man was handed over to emergency medical personnel for further assessment and treatment.
The incident highlights the serious danger posed by unsecured or open infrastructure in public areas, particularly at night when hazards may be difficult for pedestrians to identify.
Marshall Security urges members of the community to report open manholes and other dangerous infrastructure immediately and to avoid approaching or entering such areas.
Highway Mail Daily News
EThekwini Municipality
The Bulletin David Paul Bramley North Durban Community Support Network Homeland Security SA
