Paraplegic ecstatic about swimming in the ocean

A swim in the ocean was a dream come true for wheelchair-bound Mariskca du Plessis (34) of Hillshaven on the West Rand in Gauteng.

The holidaymaker’s dream was made possible by members from NSRI Shelly Beach, Port Shepstone K9 Search and Rescue and Medevac on Monday this week.

A bubbly Du Plessis was carried into the mid-break at Shelly Beach Ski-Boat Club where she spent some time floating in the water.

“Today, it was very beautiful! For the last 25 years I’ve wanted to swim in the sea. I had no control, and had to trust the men holding me and go with the waves. It was awesome! This experience was the highlight of my holiday,” said an emotional Du Plessis.

Her little lapdog, Rosie ran up and down along the water’s edge barking and yelping for her mother while she was in the water.

“Five-year-old Rosie, who is a rescue dog, spends 24/7, 365 days a year with me. She is my best friend and soul mate,” said Du Plessis.

Du Plessis’s uncle and aunt Coen and Elsa Harmse, whom she is staying with while on holiday, organised the outing with the rescue units.

“Thank you to everyone for making this dream come true,” added Du Plessis, smiling.

Rudi Prinsloo of Medevac said that after a season of many drowning incidents, this touching experience of taking Du Plessis for a swim makes the job worth it.

Du Plessis suffered a back injury as a three-year-old in a shooting accident and after developing scoliosis she walked with crutches.

In September 2002, du Plessis, then 14, was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital to have the rods in her spine removed.

The rods had been placed in two years previously to help her spine fuse, as she suffered from scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

However, the operation was botched, leaving Du Plessis a paraplegic.

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