‘Madiba could have died’

Johannesburg —  The 40 minutes that an extremely ill Nelson Mandela spent in the icy cold while stranded on a Gauteng highway in a broken ambulance could have caused his death, said a respected cardiologist on Saturday. Rapport said the military ambulance taking the former president to hospital broke down two weeks ago between Pretoria and Johannesburg.

American news service CBS on Saturday reported that Madiba’s heart had stopped.

Three independent sources confirmed on Saturday night that Mandela had to be resuscitated.

When the ambulance broke down, it was 6 °C outside and Mandela’s wife, Graça Machel, who was apparently also stranded in the ambulance for 45 minutes was said to be “crazy” with worry.

Although presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said doctors were satisfied that Mandela had suffered no harm, many doctors have differed in their opinion.

Cardiologist Dr David Janekelow said any delay was a reason for concern.

“You want to get emergency treatment as soon as possible. If someone has already been resuscitated and there is a delay to get him to hospital it can have serious consequences,” he said.

Another cardiologist, Dr Richard Ne­thononde agreed: “Mandela could’ve died next to the road while they waited for another ambulance.”

It was also alleged on Saturday that Mandela’s liver and kidneys were only functioning at 50 percent and that he had not opened his eyes in days.

All the presidency was willing to say on Saturday was that his condition was serious but stable.

According to the Sunday Times, Graca Machel has been sleeping in a room next to Mandela’s at the hospital every night.

The newspaper also reported that Madiba’s close family was deliberating on “just how much medical intervention was enough for an old and very sick man”. — Sapa.