The high schooler who was hospitalised with injuries after being struck down by a vehicle on a busy arterial route in Somerset West on Thursday (24 August) has been discharged and is on the road to recovery.
“I am doing okay,” said the reticent 14-year-old during a visit to the Family Shelter, which the teenage boy and his family have temporarily called home since last May.
His parents expressed gratitude that their child survived the near-fatal incident, which occurred in Victoria Street around 15:00.
The Gordon High School learner was among a group of friends coming from school and walking to the safe haven, which offers temporary accommodation and services to homeless families from a premises located a mere stone’s throw away, when the accident occurred.
According to Sgt Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, the victim apparently attempted to dart across the busy arterial road when he was hit by a white Toyota Corolla Cross travelling in the direction of the CBD.
Somerset West Night Shelter supervisor Lance Petersen related that he drove to the accident scene while on the daily school-run, collecting learner clients from schools in Macassar and Firgrove, and transporting them back to the facility.
En route to the facility located on the corner of Sergeant and Church Street, and just after turning left into Victoria Street at the N2 intersection, he was flagged down by another shelter teen who recognised the branded Honda BR-V.
“Instinct naturally kicked in,” said Petersen, who immediately attended to the injured teenager and alerted the facility manager and social worker. “I remained on the scene until my shelter colleagues and the client’s parents responded before resuming my transport duties.”
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town’s fire and rescue services, said crews from Somerset West responded to the incident at 14:50. “The patient was treated and transported to Helderberg Hospital at 15:10,” he said.
Abulele Dyasi, communications officer with the provincial Department of Health in Khayelitsha East Sub-structure, confirmed a patient matching the teen’s description was transferred from Helderberg Hospital to Tygerberg Hospital in a stable condition for further specialist care.
The teenager, who sustained fractures to the shoulder and damage to his front teeth among other injuries, was discharged after spending one night in hospital and is scheduled for follow-up visits.
“We harbour no hard feelings following the accident and are simply focused on our son’s recovery,” said his mother.
Police compiled an accident report following the incident.
