A crowdfunding campaign for a comrades volunteer who was involved in a hit-and-run accident on race day is quickly gaining traction.
At around 4am, as Johan Doubell (51) from Cleland, Pietermaritzburg and his fiancée Erika Kapp were setting up their water stand at the bottom of Polly Shortts at Ashburton, a reckless driver drove into the stand injuring Johan and 3 other individuals.
“A light blue bakkie came speeding up and hit two women before it swerved into him. It ran over him, reversed and then sped off.” – said Erika
The driver, still not publicly disclosed by the police has since voluntarily handed himself over to the Pietermaritzburg SAPS Accident Unit.
“The man faces several (possible) charges including hit-and-run, failure to stop after an accident, negligent driving and failure to ascertain injuries after an accident.” Says Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane
Sharlene Zulch and Merrywynn Pieterse, who were also run over by the bakkie on Sunday morning, are in pain and but suffering lesser injuries after the traumatic ordeal.
Johan however is currently in the intensive care unit at St Anne’s Hospital with multiple injuries.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that we were just at the doctors last week for a check up after Johan’s knee replacement a year ago, now that same knee that was almost fully healed has been broken in 5 places. My fiancée also has broken ribs, a cracked skull, his cheek is broken and his lung collapsed,” – says Erika
On the 12th of June, Johan was taken into theater where he was fitted with a metal plate in his right leg and splint in the other.
“I saw Johan last night at around 6pm. He looked relaxed but could not talk much, he was still very drowsy from the painkillers. His body has been through a lot the last few days and it’s really difficult to see him in so much pain” – says Erika
Today Johan will undergo surgery at St. Annes to rectify his now fractured right optical bone. Erika says, Johan is seeing double, due to the displacement of his eye socket.
“Due to Johan’s difficulty breathing he would have been unable to have undergone two major operations on one day. It would have been too risky to for him to be under anesthetic for so long. We are hoping for the best today and praying doctors will be able to save his right eye” – says Erika
To raise funds for Johan’s medical costs as well as his recovery, community organization, Porky’s People have created a campaign to raise R100 000 on donations based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy.
“We heard about the horrific incident that happened with Johan and wanted to do our best to ensure his speedy recovery. We hope the public will continue their support for a respected member of our community and contribute to his fund on BackaBuddy.” – says Theresa Pienaar, Founder of Porky’s People.
The campaign has raised R11 000 since going live but is quickly gaining traction.
Support Johan by donating to his campaign on BackaBuddy by clicking here.
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