The hero in the rubble: meet the woman who recovered bodies from Verulam's deadly collapse

TEREZA van den Berg, 45, faced death, devastation and personal fear as she worked to recover victims from Verulam's collapsed building.

Her powerful first-hand account reveals the physical and emotional toll of rescue work that most will never experience.

Van den Berg, of Ballito, is a qualified search and rescue specialist who did not hesitate to step into the rubble that claimed five lives on Friday.

She joined the IPSS Search and Rescue in 2021, and was one of the rescuers who went into the collapsed structure to recover the bodies of those who had been trapped under the layers of reinforced concrete and steel.

“The scene was just devastating – from the building collapse to the shock on people’s faces, the heart-breaking emotions and fear,” said Van den Berg. 

“The heat added to the already difficult conditions on Friday and then there was rain on Saturday. This made the recoveries challenging and more dangerous for all the rescue personnel." 

Van den Berg said the terrain was also unforgiving. 

“We were working on a steep slope and had to set up rope systems. The reinforced concrete and re-bar was extremely hard and thick. We had to break through it just to reach those who were entrapped.

“Heavy machinery was brought in, but even that felt painfully slow. It felt like we were just not making enough headway in a time where every second counts. That weighs on you,” she added.

Van den Berg said the greatest burden was not physical but emotional.

“I prepared myself by constantly reminding myself that I had loved ones waiting for me at home, wanting me to come back safe and in one piece. Mentally, going into such a dangerous environment is not easy. I kept reminding myself that I am doing all of this to give closure to the families of the deceased.”

She said the moment that would never leave her was when they had to break the devastating news to the families who had gathered at the scene.

Van den Berg added that balancing safety and urgency was a painful reality for rescue teams. 

“My dad always taught me that a dead hero is no hero at all. If we compromise a rescue or recovery mission by going in blindly, we might lose even more lives.”

She admitted that waiting, even for seconds, could feel unbearable. 

“Balancing the two is difficult. Sometimes it breaks our hearts that we have to wait a little longer before we could safely rescue or recover someone’s loved one.

“The thought of my loved ones not seeing me again popped into my mind when I was about to enter the rubble. My mind was telling me one thing, but in my heart I knew what I was doing was important to the other families too.”

She said before stepping into the rubble, she said goodbye to her family, not knowing if she would return. 

“I said goodbye as if it was my last time. I knew how important it was to go in and do the difficult work. What mattered most to me in that moment was doing whatever it took to get to those entrapped.”

Van den Berg said that fear was constant. 

“I was afraid at some points. The rest of that construction site could have collapsed further and trapped or even killed us. But my motivation came from my deep sense of service. My team and my family also motivates me.”

She said retrieving bodies took an emotional toll on her.

“It is only when you get home, in the quiet of your own space, that you realise how much it has affected you. It is hard and draining but staying fit and healthy helps a lot. It keeps the mind strong.”

For van den Berg, survival and healing came down to love and support. 

“The most important way I process all of this is by leaning on my incredibly supportive wife and family. I could not do any of this without them being there when I got home.

“To be honest, today I’m still emotionally sad and drained and physically tired too. But with a few days’ rest, some long walks along the beach and fresh air, I will be as good as new. Ready to tackle the next rescue or recovery that faces our amazing IPSS Search and Rescue Team. I am always ready for the next challenge,” said van den Berg.

The POST