The medical emergency occurred mid-flight over Bloemfontein when a woman suddenly collapsed. Dave Wessels, the SA Rugby general manager for high performance, quickly notified Dr. Plaatjies of the situation.
"I saw Dave calling Clem and when he got there, he resuscitated her. He literally pumped and pumped and said he wasn’t picking up a pulse."
Dr. Plaatjies, demonstrating composure and expert medical skills, managed to revive the woman. Following this, the captain made the decision to turn the plane around and head back to OR Tambo International, ensuring the passenger could receive further medical care.
The unexpected turn of events led to a delay. The aircraft, originally bound for Cape Town, took off again later that afternoon, eventually landing more than three hours behind schedule.
The Junior Boks, coached by Kevin Foote, were not too perturbed by the delay. Their victory over France with a score of 16-5 in Tbilisi had just secured them back-to-back Junior World Championship titles, a first for any South African team in this category.
The team’s resilience and focus on teamwork were evident not just on the pitch but also in how they handled the unforeseen ordeal. The incident was a real-time demonstration of the strong leadership and preparedness that runs through the entire squad, reflecting their championship-winning ethos both on and off the field.
As for the Junior Springboks, they continue to set a high standard, inspired by their senior counterparts, with their sights set firmly on future challenges and successes in the rugby world.
