ONLY 24 hours after he requested his fiancé to send voice messages to his loved ones, the security guard who was severely assaulted during the Kirkwood riots in April this year and left with a traumatic brain injury, passed away on Thursday morning, after a relapse the previous night.
PE Express previously reported that Nicolas Verwey (48) was severely assaulted while working as a casual security guard during the recent Kirkwood protests.
The small community was rocked by violent protests on April 25, when citrus workers took to the streets, burning tyres, blocking roads and assaulting people.
One person died and Verwey was caught in the crossfire, leading to him fighting for his life at Livingstone Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay up until late last week.
He had to undergo two brain operations in one week and would have needed rehabilitation therapy in order to learn how to speak and walk again.
Verwey’s life partner, Juanie Lee, was still devastated by the news, especially since he had been doing a little better the day before his passing.
“He struggled to speak but was having a conversation with me when I got there the Wednesday but that night, after 23:00, the doctor called to say that Nic has had a bad turn,” Lee said.
“My daughter and I went there and he didn’t look well. His son was working night shift but called me later to say that he was allowed to see his father for a while. The next day after 10:00, the doctor called to say that he had passed,” she added.
“I was at that point where I was willing to take care of this man for the rest of my life if I needed to and now that has been taken away. For two months, my life centred just on him and now that has been taken away, but I know that God knows best and I believe that in my heart.”
Lee said that although their hearts were shattered, they were trying to find comfort in the fact that Verwey was at rest.
She added that the family, especially Verwey’s brother in Dubai, were taking his passing very hard. The brother won’t be able to make it for the memorial and was struggling with his big brother’s death.
“It is hard for us but we know that he is in a better place.”
Lee said that Verwey would be laid to rest at the end of this week.
