More than 209,000 emergency calls were answered by Netcare 911 over the past year, but one little girl’s remarkable recovery has become a moving reminder of the difference paramedics make every single day.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (10 July 2026) – Seven months after her daughter survived a devastating accident, one South African mother is using International Paramedics Day to honour the Netcare 911 team who stepped in when her family needed them most.
For Shaydeen O’Sullivan, gratitude has never faded. If anything, it has grown stronger with every milestone her daughter, Kiera, has reached since the terrifying accident that changed their lives last October. On a day dedicated to celebrating paramedics around the world, her family wanted to make sure the people who helped save their little girl knew just how much their actions still mean.
“When Kiera was critically injured in a freak accident in Ballito, your professionalism, skill and compassion made all the difference,” says Shaydeen.
The story touched hearts across South Africa when we first shared it. A family outing turned into a nightmare after a heavy log fell onto six-year-old Kiera, causing catastrophic injuries to her skull and face. With every second counting, Netcare 911 paramedics rushed to stabilise her before she was flown by helicopter to Netcare St Anne’s Hospital, where a full trauma team was already waiting.
That rapid response gave Kiera the best possible chance, and today, her story has become one of recovery, hope and joy.
“Today, seven months later, we are delighted to share that Kiera is doing incredibly well. She is back at school, thriving, and has returned to being the happy, determined little girl we all know and love. Most importantly, she is back to being ‘Cowgirl Kiera’ and has returned to her horse riding lessons – something she absolutely loves. Our family will never forget the care and support we received from Netcare 911 paramedics when we needed it most.”
For the people who work on the front lines of emergency medical care, stories like Kiera’s are so incredibly important.
Over the past year alone, Netcare 911 responded to 209,469 emergencies across South Africa, averaging more than 500 calls every single day. Behind every one of those calls is a team of paramedics stepping into moments of fear and uncertainty with remarkable skill, compassion and determination.
For Gabriel Mosca, being a paramedic is about far more than a job.
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His colleague, Clarinda Neven, describes it as something even deeper.
“It’s a core calling from within your being – to be there for others and to try and save lives. It’s a voice that you have in you that just won’t be quiet, unless you feed it.”
That calling often comes with sacrifices.
“You may miss out on celebrating family birthdays – but every year, there is another birthday, another Christmas. The patient may not have that chance again.”
And even after the sirens stop, many experiences stay with them for years.
“There are places that you drive, smells you encounter and scenes you witness that stay with you forever,” says Netcare 911 Rescue Officer Nick Berry. “Sometimes, years later, you just remember them again.”
International Paramedics Day, marked on the 8th of July, recognises the people who willingly step into someone else’s worst day, bringing not only advanced medical care but also reassurance when families need it most. Their work often lasts only minutes or hours, yet the difference they make can shape decades.
“Every life saved, every family reunited, and every future restored gives meaning to the sacrifices emergency medical services make, and we thank every paramedic for their commitment to serving others,” says Netcare 911 Managing Director Craig Grindell.
Looking at Kiera today, it’s easy to see that impact. She’s back at school, back with her horses, back to dreaming about the future and back to being the adventurous little girl her family knows and loves.
For Shaydeen, that is the greatest gift of all.
And for every paramedic who has ever wondered whether the long shifts, missed celebrations and difficult days are worth it, her simple message says everything: the lives you help save continue long after the emergency is over, creating countless more moments for families to treasure.
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