UPDATE: Hit-and-run boy goes home
BOSMONT – Liam Scheepers remembers the two cars that were drag racing and the car that hit him.
Liam Scheepers, the 13-year-old hit-and-run victim who spent more than a month in intensive and high care in the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, has finally been discharged from the hospital.
Liam was hit by a car that was apparently drag racing in Bosmont on Albertina Sisulu Road on 9 July. The accident left him in a critical condition, fighting for his life with many serious injuries for many weeks. One of his eyes is still not fully healed but the swelling has gone down remarkably and his vision has improved.
Although Liam was discharged on 11 August, the drag racers that caused his injuries have still not been apprehended by the police.
Liam is happy to be back home with his family and to see his friends. “I did not like the hospital and have really been looking forward to coming home,” he said.
His grandmother, Zelda Scheepers said Liam was supposed to be in a wheelchair but he refused. “He came home and insisted that he wanted to walk again,” said Zelda. He has slowly started walking again and has been pushing himself to make progress.
Zelda said since he has been home, he has been taking walks with her around the block to strengthen his legs. He is also receiving physiotherapy and speech therapy. Zelda said that his memory is good – he remembers everyone in his life and he remembers the details of the accident as well.
“I remember the two cars that were racing and I also remember the car that hit me,” said Liam.
Liam does, however, have a problem with his short-term memory and is confused about recent events. This is probably as a result of his head injuries during the accident, said Zelda. She added that the doctors were very impressed with how quickly he has recovered. “It is a miracle,” she added.
Liam’s school friends came to see him on the day he arrived back home. They were in tears when they saw him.
“The community is so happy to see him when we take walks every day. He has always been kind to everyone,” said Zelda.
Liam was overjoyed to see his very best friend, his dog Bentley, again. His dream is to be a vet when he grows up because he loves animals very much. “I am looking forward to playing soccer again and doing athletics at school when I am well again,” he said.
He added that he is looking forward to going back to school.
Zelda said that she has been helping him with his physiotherapy and trying hard to keep things as normal as possible to get him back to his normal routine.
Sophiatown Police corporate communications officer, Lieutenant Colonel Julia Claassen said the case is still being investigated and nobody has been arrested yet. “We appeal to the community to come forward with any information or call the crime stop number on 08600 10111,” she said.
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