Young girl’s remarkable recovery after life-threatening accident
Kiera O’Sullivan was hurt while on holiday with her family at the coast.
A young girl from Greytown is recovering well after surviving a life-threatening accident in Ballito in late October.
Kiera O’Sullivan (6) was seriously injured when a heavy log fell on her head during a family outing, leaving her with critical head and facial injuries that required urgent medical care.
The accident happened suddenly and, due to the severity of her injuries, Kiera was first placed in a medically induced coma by IPSS Medical Rescue paramedics before being airlifted by a Netcare 911 helicopter to Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.
The helicopter reached the hospital in just 25 minutes, a journey that would have taken nearly two hours by road, giving doctors vital time to save her life.Her mother, Shaydeen O’Sullivan, described the moments after the accident as terrifying.
“I will never forget the sound. At first, we feared the worst, but our faith carried us through,” she said.
Advanced life support paramedic Navin Singh and emergency care practitioner Sibusisiwe Sibeko were among the first responders on the scene. They worked quickly to stabilise Kiera and calmly explained every step to her parents before the emergency air transfer.
A specialist medical team was waiting when Kiera arrived at hospital. Scans revealed multiple facial fractures, as well as swelling and bruising of the brain.
Dr Sandile Ngwenya and Dr Ciaran Lalor performed complex surgery to repair her skull and reconstruct her face. She was later placed in a medically induced coma to allow her brain time to heal.
Against the odds, Kiera’s recovery was swift. She spent just 12 days in hospital before returning home.
Today, she is back on her bicycle and running freely around the family farm.
“Apart from a scar and shorter hair, there is very little sign of what she endured. She loves animals and dreams of becoming a cowgirl,” her mother said.
The family expressed deep gratitude to the medical teams and everyone who prayed for Kiera.
“We never imagined we would be home together for Christmas. Now we are, and we are truly thankful,” said Shaydeen.
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.
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.
