Update: Burn victim’s family faces new problems
Some new challenges are making it near impossible to transfer Sean Smith to a hospital that has the facilities to treat him.
Despite tireless efforts, burn victim Sean Smith is still stuck in the ICU of the George Mukhari hospital.
His family cannot find him a hospital that offers the care he needs, despite a two-week search.
“Every day brings new problems in getting Sean the help he so desperately needs,” says Amoré Jooste, a close family friend and spokesperson.
She said the family, with the help of Hero Foundation, had widened the search for an appropriate hospital.
Speaking to Rekord on Thursday, Jooste said they were compiling a list of suitable hospitals that could accommodate Smith and his requirements.
One of the biggest problems was getting a comprehensive report from the doctor treating him at the Ga-Rankuwa hospital, said Jooste.
She said the family had asked the hospital for the comprehensive clinical report because it was required by the next hospital that would treat him..
“The report is compulsory for the hospital we want to take him to to give us a quotation based on his condition.”
She said the family had asked the nurses attending to Smith to pass the message on to his doctor without any luck.
She said various medical services had pledged to provide different services from ICU ambulance to helicopter to take him to the next hospital.
But Jooste said in his current condition, it was risky to transfer Smith.
“His vitals are not stable.”
Sean Smith (16) sustained serious burn injuries when he tried to help a woman get her broken down car running again.
It was said he had used petrol to remove oil which had spilled on to his hands and arms then used his shirt to dry himself.
This shirt had caught alight when the woman lit a cigarette.
Smith, who suffered third degree burns to part of his face and upper body during the accident, was scheduled for surgery for debridement on Friday.
He was also expected to receive a blood transfusion.
See video:
Also read:
UPDATE: Hospital supports burn victim
UPDATE: Burn victim moved to Ga-Rankuwa hospital
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
