#ImStaying: Free State couple lucky to be alive share inspiring story of Ballito accident
Strangers helped Franli's husband, Reinhardt, pull his wife from the vehicle.
Free State husband and wife, Reinhardt and Franli Hedder are very lucky to be alive today after a recent holiday which saw them involved in a car accident on the N2 southbound near Ballito on Sunday while heading home.
The inspirational story of how a group of people came to their aid was shared to the now 617,493-strong #ImStaying Facebook group and now the couple say that their faith in South Africa has been renewed.
The couple claim that an allegedly intoxicated driver made a U-turn on the N2 south and before the couple knew what had happened, they had collided.
With no way to get out of their Toyota Fortuner, the couple found themselves trapped in their SUV, upside down and on the side of the N2.
But all hope was not lost.
“Within seconds, a group of men both young and old, from a nearby village on the other side of the hill next to the road came to flip the car back on its wheels,” said Franli.
The men then proceeded to help Franli’s husband, Reinhardt, pull his wife from the vehicle and, she says, once she was firmly back on her feet on the ground, a lady reached out to her to comfort her.
“It was an older lady, neither of us could understand each other’s language, but you don’t need words in order to comfort someone,” Franli said.
ALSO READ: #ImStaying: Join the movement for social change
“While she was embracing me, trying to calm me down, the rest of the community rushed around to pick up our personal belongings that got thrown out of the car and threw it back inside the car.
“They all stayed with us until the traffic cops arrived and things started to calm down.”
“This is why I am staying!”
Franli continued to explain that South Africans may not always share the same language but, that they do understand when someone is in need.
She confirmed that both she and her husband escaped with only a few scrapes and bruises and, are both doing fine.
Meanwhile, the post about the accident has gone viral and has received a total of 21 000 reactions, nearly a thousand comments and a total of 1 400 shares.
Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
