Westville Boy Risked His Life to Save Mom During KZN Floods

Amidst the heartbreaking stories of loss and devastation are some incredible stories of uBuntu and bravery. This is a story of love and heroism, a story of a selfless, young schoolboy who risked his own life during the KZN floods to save that of his mother.

Westville Boys’ High School (WBHS), which sadly lost one parent during the disaster, shared this letter of gratitude that was sent to them by the boy’s uncle, Stuart Braidwood from the WBHS Class of 2000:

“On the night of April 11th, 2022, during the height of the storms, a mudslide hit the part of the house where Cameron Ferriera and his mother (my sister), Catherine, were mopping up and trying to divert the water flowing into her bedroom. The walls to the room gave way and the roof collapsed on the two of them. Cameron was pushed by the force of the water into the adjoining room and found himself under the rubble”.

“He managed to free himself and after hearing screams from his mother, he selflessly clambered over the rubble and started to dig through it to try and find her. She had been pinned under a portion of the roof and was trapped in the mud below. She had managed to get her head out just enough to scream for help.”

“Cameron found her and, risking his own life, managed to pull her to safety before going to find his brother and younger sister and make their way onto the road. He saved her life. If it were not for him having the courage to wade through the water, mud and rubble and risking himself to find his mother – this would be a very different letter. They walked 2km with neighbours to safety before they were picked up by a friend and given shelter until they could be transported to hospital.“

“Cameron has minor injuries and had to have his ankle stitched up and as far as I know my sister has a shattered ankle and is currently undergoing surgery in order to fix it.“

“His bravery in the face of absolute disaster, his selfless act to save his mother’s life while his own was at risk and managing to help reunite the family and get to safety are all testament to his character and the man he is becoming. I am incredibly proud of this boy and he is undoubtedly my hero!”

“You can be proud too that he wears the Griffin. Incepto Ne Desistam – May I not shrink from my purpose. He rose to his purpose in the face of adversity that night and saved the life of his mother!”

Westville Boys’ High School said: “Well Done Cameron – and to all those who have shown incredible bravery during this time.”