5-year-old from Komatipoort recovers after farm horse accident
Young Zjanique van Niekerk underwent three surgeries at Mediclinic Nelspruit after a horse struck her as she ran to greet a visitor on the family farm.
A family is counting its blessings after five-year-old Zjanique van Niekerk survived a serious horse-related accident that left her with multiple injuries, reports the Lowvelder.
Zjanique was injured on Monday (September 21) when she was struck by a horse being ridden by her brother, Reinhardt (13). She suffered a broken palate, jaw and left arm in the incident.
“I was elsewhere on the farm when I received a call that my child had been seriously injured,” said Zjacques van Niekerk, Zjanique’s father.
Girl runs in front of galloping horse
Shortly after lunch, Reinhardt had ridden the horse to open a farm gate for a visitor at the request of his mother, Roelfina. The gate is situated about 800m from the family’s home.
According to Zjacques, Zjanique and her sister, Jenneke (8), ran towards the gate to meet the visitor. As Reinhardt galloped back from the gate, the girls turned around and started running home along the right-hand side of the road.
“Zjanique unexpectedly crossed to the left-hand side of the road,” Zjacques said.
“Reinhardt shouted at her to stay next to the road, but for some reason she suddenly veered back and ran directly in front of the horse.”
The horse’s foreleg struck her in the face. She reportedly rolled over before being grazed on the left side of her chest by a hoof, which then landed on her arm.
“It was the most terrible sight when I arrived and saw my wife kneeling in the middle of the road with our child in her arms,” said Zjacques.
Emergency surgery at Mediclinic Nelspruit
The family rushed the severely injured girl to a doctor in Komatipoort, from where she was transported by ambulance to Mediclinic Nelspruit.
There, she underwent three operations to repair her upper jaw and palate and to stabilise her broken left arm.
She was discharged from hospital on Thursday evening. Despite the ordeal, Zjacques said, Zjanique is recovering well.
“Reinhardt was deeply shaken, but has since received counselling to help him process the traumatic incident,” he added.
The family remains grateful for the outcome.
“We are simply thankful that our child is alive, and we want to give all the honour and praise in this story to the Lord for His grace, greatness and goodness,” said Zjacques.
“We are thankful that Zjanique can still be with us.”
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