Boy from Standerton was first trapped under tree, now trapped in wheelchair
In a memorandum dated December 20, the Witbank Hospital confirmed that he is a paraplegic.
A distraught parent is heartbroken about his child’s scholastic future as well as physical condition.
An incident at a primary school on November 12 last year when a tree fell down on his son, lies at the bottom of his anxiety.
The father contacted the Standerton Advertiser the past week and paid a visit to our offices.
The newspaper is protecting the identity of the child on the father’s request.
According to him, the school held a fundraiser that day and the learners were playing outside.
“My son was trapped under the tree,” he said.
“Since an ambulance did not arrive in time, a teacher took him in a car to the Standerton Hospital.”
The young boy sustained critical injuries and was transferred to Witbank Hospital.
In a memorandum dated December 20, the Witbank Hospital confirmed that he is a paraplegic.
The memorandum stated that he sustained polytraumatic injuries to the brain, legs and spine.
He underwent a spine operation to stabilise the fractures and according to the father, his right lung was also injured.
The newspaper contacted the school on Thursday, January 20 and the call went to voicemail.
A message was left and a WhatsApp-post was subsequently sent to the spokesman of the Department of Education, Mr Jasper Zwane, the same day.
A telephone call was also made, but Mr Zwane’s mail box was full and no message could be accepted.
According to the father, he signed a report at the HOD of the Department of Education and requested the available CCTV-footage of the incident.
According to the father, he has not received the footage, as promised.
He also wanted private hospital care for his son, to be paid by the department.
“My son is now a paraplegic,” he said.
“Arrangements have to be made as a matter of urgency.”
The man said that the situation must be addressed by the department providing a care worker and home schooling to be introduced.
He added that the family was told that the doctors will only be able to assess his son’s condition after six months.
The Standerton Advertiser is in possession of a number of photos of the boy in hospital, showing some of his injuries.
The boy got physiotherapy.
The Standerton Advertiser visited the family on Friday, January 21 and found the young boy watching cartoons on television.
His father religiously washes him when returning from his work.
“He has to be turned in bed from time to time to prevent sores forming.”
The father referred to the fact that schools in Mpumalanga already reopened and his son is now wheelchair-bound.
“My boy is not able to wheel himself anywhere,” he concluded.
“I have not heard anything from the authorities for two months.”
