Travis Tower, far left, together with the joint South African specialist team; Travis rescuing people on the ground.
Mr Trower is also a Director at Rescue South Africa and was deployed to the flood-ravaged provinces of Maputo and Gaza in late January.
The mission was launched in response to a "Red Alert" declared by the Mozambican government and a call for assistance from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
The deployment highlighted a strategic partnership between Rescue South Africa, Mandela University, and the University of Johannesburg (UJ). This collaboration combines the rapid-response agility of the NGO sector with the technical expertise and research capabilities of South Africa's leading academic institutions.
Mr Trower joined a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including aviation rescue experts and emergency medical personnel. Operating in challenging conditions, the team utilised helicopters for "wet hoisting" rescues, lifting stranded individuals from rooftops and trees, and delivered essential medical care to communities cut off by rising floodwaters.
"This deployment is a testament to the real-world application of the skills we teach in our Emergency Medical Care programme," said Paul Allan, Head of the University’s Department: of Emergency Medical Care.
"Having our staff active on the frontlines of international disaster response ensures that our students are learning from lecturers who are not only academic experts but also living the university ethos of change the world."
The team concluded their mission and returned safely to South Africa on 26 January, having successfully transitioned operations to long-term relief agencies.
The Department of Emergency Medical Care at Nelson Mandela University is a leader in training world-class paramedics and rescue specialists. Through rigorous academic programmes and practical training, the department prepares students to save lives in complex and high-pressure environments, Mr Allan said.