Matthew then started treating his father, using towels to try to stop the flow of blood from his wounds. Benny suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest and shoulders, a punctured lung and a shattered shoulder bone.
Matthew helped his father to get to the family car and tried to drive him to hospital. But being too young to know how to drive, he stalled the vehicle and crashed it into the garage.
They managed to get to their complex’s main gate, about 100m away, where the teen started shouting for help.
Van der Merwe and Dayne Olsen were manning an intensive care ambulance that transferred his father from the emergency department at Mulbarton Hospital, where he was stabilised, to Union Hospital in Alberton.
The paramedics felt strongly that the teen’s heroic actions should be acknowledged.
“Netcare 911 wanted to honour a young man who showed incredible courage and presence of mind during an exceptionally traumatic ordeal for him and his family,” said Netcare.