Ruan celebrates 25th birthday years after nearly drowning when he was four

The family of Ruan Belcher, who experienced a near-drowning 21 years ago which had left him paralysed, are grateful that they could celebrate his birthday years later with loving family members and a close group of friends.

The spirited Ruan celebrated his 25th birthday party on Tuesday 11 October.

Ruan, who has cerebral palsy, was just four years old when he fell into the family’s swimming pool while riding his plastic motorbike.

His lifeless body was found floating motionless at the bottom of the pool.

He was revived, but had suffered significant brain damage which had left him wheelchair-bound.

TygerBurger reported on the accident in 2001 and revisited the Belcher-family in 2012, a decade after the tragic accident.

Ruan Belcher who has cerebral palsy after a near drowning, celebrated his 25th birthday on Tuesday last week. Here he is with his father, Herman, and the two’s motorcycles in the background.PHOTO: Richard Roberts

Birthday reunion

His father, Herman, was at the house in Madison Square, Edgemead, last week where Ruan was visited not just by family and friends, but also by emergency first-aid responders and paramedics of Netcare 911, as well as the Bothasig police who conducted a drive-by.

Ruan and his friends, Oliver Bettendorf (13), Tessa Schäfer (19), Dagan August (33) and Connor Yates-Butler (12), who all suffer from disabilities, was excited to see the ambulance services who arrived with flashing lights and sirens, and equally happy when the police paid them a visit.

Ruan Belcher was visited by a team from Netcare 911 on his birthday. They are from left Ernest Marx, Jeandré van Zyl, Dayne Olsen and Lauren Duncan. Herman, his father, is on the far right.PHOTO: Richard Roberts

Despite his disability Herman said Ruan is doing amazing and that he continues to be a blessing.

“He has a lot of friends and fans,” Herman said.

Ruan was also visited by Sue van der Linde, founder of the charity organisation, Iris House. Sue told the newspaper that Ruan was in fact the first client they had. Since then the organisation has grown with carers across the city.

Thankful for support

Herman said as a family they are thankful for the help of Iris House.

“He is growing up nicely, and can eat a lot,” Herman said when asked about his son, adding that sometimes Ruan can be difficult too.

The Bothasig police also visited Ruan Belcher during a drive-by on his birthday on Tuesday last week.PHOTO: Richard Roberts

His mother, Sheila, works as a care-worker in Wales in the United Kingdom and comes home every six months for a period of three months, says Herman.

At the moment he has his father and aunt that cares for him.

Ruan is also a biker with his father and have been on several breakfast runs, Herman said.