A Mitchells Plain ouma spent six days in hospital after she injured her leg during a fall inside a luxury bus while travelling from Springbok, claiming the driver refused to help her.
Since the incident on 6 April, Danielle October, 61, says no-one from Eldo Coaches, based in Joburg, has bothered to make contact with her.
“The pain is so unbearable I cannot sleep. I want to expose the bus company to warn other passengers,” she says.
Danielle says she went to Springbok to visit relatives and was on her way back home when she tripped and fell on stairs inside the bus.
She says her leg had a nasty cut and she also knocked her head and arm.
She claims the driver was rude and even attempted driving away from her after she got out to use the toilet.
“I got up from my seat and I must have hooked my foot into something, I fell forward so badly,” the ouma explains.
‘UNBEARABLE PAIN’: Danielle October, 61, was in hospital for six days after falling on a bus
“I knocked my head and arm, and my left leg was injured badly. I was screaming in pain and the driver didn’t come to help me. Two passengers [helped instead].
“I hobbled to the loo when we stopped at a garage and when I came back the bus was leaving without me and the passengers had to stop the driver.
“I told the driver what had happened and asked him whether he had a first aid kit, to which he responded very rudely saying no. He took no note of me.”
Danielle says instead, the driver offered to call an ambulance and leave her at the next stop in Klawer: “I said no, I cannot stay here as I didn’t know the place and it was dark. I continued the journey home in pain.”
Danielle says she was offered help from a passenger who gave her pain medication.
At their destination in Bellville, she tried to report the matter, but the offices were closed.
Danielle was taken to hospital where they took an X-ray of her leg and she was kept there for six days.
She says she called the company’s Customer Care Line and was given an email address to report her complaint.
She also attempted reaching them via Facebook, but says she has received no response by Thursday.
Eldo Coaches spokesperson, Asma Moola, said on Thursday their driver disputed Danielle’s claims.
“The driver has stated under oath that the lady fell outside of the coach and not inside the coach as alleged by Ms. October.
“More importantly, he further states that he asked if Ms. October required urgent medical attention and she stated she did not wish to be left at the nearest medical facility or for an ambulance to be called.
“I am still awaiting information from my Cape Town office and we as a company will be in touch with Ms. October directly in order to try to resolve the incident.”