Hermanus is recovering well after a tragic motor bike accident

He enjoys riding his bike, he has been doing it for years now riding along the streets of eMalahleni with his partner. Hermanus van Staden got involved in an accident on Friday, March 3 when he was driving his blue Honda Black Bird 1100. The bike collided with a truck in Watermeyer Street.

Around 16:20 his partner Bianca van der Berg got a shock of her life when she called Van Staden and another person answered, she was informed that he had just been involved in an accident.
It is alleged the driver of the motorbike had right of way as the robot was green on his side. The bike was so damaged that the petrol tank moved forward.

How the motorbike was before it got involved in an accident.

He was transported to Life Cosmos Hospital for medical attention where he was stabilised by Dr Wayne Banks who works in casualty and later got transferred to Witbank Hospital. Injuries sustained were his spleen that burst, one and a half litres of blood went to the stomach, he had liver laceration, eight ribs were broken, two lungs broken and a collarbone on the left neck was injured. An emergency operation had to be done where the spleen was removed on Saturday morning, March 4.

The doctor also did two Computed tomography (CAT) scans which showed that his brain was fine.

“I miss him so much as we used to do a lot together, he must come back home and I am very positive that he will,” said Van der Berg.

The motorbike was involved in an accident on Friday, March 3 after it collided with a truck.

Van Staden has been receiving world class treatment from the hospital’s staff members with people like Dr Rusbe Medina and all the nurses at ICU who she commends for the good job as they have been very helpful.
She mentions unknown people have showed her nothing but acts of kindness during this difficult time.
One person in particular is Freddy from Cosmos Hospital who stays a few kilometres from the accident scene; he assisted her immensely.

“The nurses are patient with me, pastors are praying with us, my colleagues are awesome and the police are doing their work well. People are constantly checking up on his progress and are willing to help in which way they can. I honestly cannot thank everyone enough for their messages as that is what is carrying me through right now.”

Happy couple Bianca van der Berg and Hermanus van Staden.

On Thursday, March 9 they were operating his arm and leg. His lungs are much stronger than when he was admitted.
The love birds are members of a biking club: Porque Podemos SC, a Spanish meaning for ‘Want Ons Kan.’
The first lady of the club, Tertia Veal says usually when bikes make a raving sound they are asking to be given right of way.

“We urge everyone using the road to be extra careful and beware of us. We have lost a lot of lives due to vehicles jumping stop signs,” said Veal.

She indicates they go as far as wearing bright clothes including a reflective helmet so they can be visible; they are doing everything they can in order to be safe when riding.

She also advices people to not text and drive as that could also lead to accidents.
Progress on Van Staden this week is that he was a bit yellow, but the doctors said they expected it because of the injuries to his liver however the results from the liver function test look good now.

He also has an infection and a high fever which he was given medicine for in order to fight it. As a result his fever is down and so is the life support machine. Because of the infection he is on dialysis.

He has a feeding tube through his nose going to his stomach and the doctor is satisfied with the improvement.
Accidents recorded in January compiled by Hein Jonker, the chief instructor and founder of the Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa shows that Motor Bike Accidents (cycle only), Motor Vehicle Accidents (motorcycle and other vehicle) and Motorcycle Accidents (pedestrian) in Mpumalanga that only two bikers have been injured and 0 are deceased. The truck company did not respond by the time of going to print.

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