The water ambulance which operates the Orealla/Siparuta route yesterday afternoon caught fire while returning to the area resulting in the captain and eight occupants having to jump overboard to safety.
Roderick Herman, 34, a captain employed by the Ministry of Health and from Orealla Village reported that just around 5 pm, he was captaining the Orealla Water Ambulance with eight passengers: Gavin France, 41, a porter; Pamela Chacon, 69, a pensioner; Ganesh Shivmangal, 45, a mason; Charles Chacon, 71, a pensioner; Sabrina Pablo, 29, a part-time worker; Berto Jabar, 26, a labourer; Brentnal Herman, 24, a part time worker all of Orealla Village; and Borlin Morris, 32, a midwife, of Siparuta at the time of the incident.
