A helicopter pilot and four health-care workers died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.

Netcare 911 MD Craig Grindell said in a statement that a medical helicopter crashed near Bergville, claiming the lives of all on board.

Details were to be investigated, Netcare said.

Netcare CEO Richard Friedland said the five “died in the line of duty”.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the families, loved ones and colleagues of Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, an anaesthetist; Dr Curnick Siyabonga (Sia) Mahlangu, a cardiothoracic surgeon; and Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant, all from Netcare Milpark Hospital; Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911, as well as the pilot of the helicopter, Mark Stoxreiter who worked for National Airways Corporation,” said Friedland.

He said that the crew were en route to a hospital in Hillcrest, west of Durban, to transfer a critically ill patient to Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg for specialised care.

“We are shocked beyond words at the tragic loss of these health-care heroes. The whole of Netcare falls silent as we bow our heads in tribute, respect, love and memory of our fallen colleagues and front-line heroes who have died in the line of duty,” said Friedland.

Said Grindell: “We are profoundly saddened, and our deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of our colleagues aboard Netcare 1 air ambulance.”(Text, excluding headline, courtesy TimesLive)