Sheila Erasmus said the machines keeping keeping Michael Bester alive will be turned off at the Netcare Linmed Hospital at 2pm today (July 24).
Read the latest article here: Mother will spend quiet moment with son before machines are switched off
Michael was riding his bicycle home from Belvedere School on July 23, when a car collided with him on Benoni Road.
According to Erasmus, a car swerved out of her son’s way and he was struck down by the car travelling behind the vehicle that swerved out of the way.
The mother said she spoke to the driver who made contact with her son.
“He asked whether God will be able to forgive him for what happened,” said Erasmus.
“My response was that God already forgave him.
“He should forgive himself, because that was God’s way of taking his angel.”
Michael was at rugby practise and was en route to his home in Fairleads when the accident occurred – about 2km from his destination.
“Paramedics arrived at the scene and found the child lying on the ground and bystanders busy performing CPR on him,” said Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann.
“Paramedics continued with resuscitation and, as soon as vital signs were noticed, the critically injured child was rushed to hospital under the constant care of an advanced life support paramedic.”
Paramedics said the bicycle was in three pieces following the accident.
The mother told the City Times her son was due to play in a rugby game in Vanderbijlpark tomorrow.
The team will now play in black and his number seven jersey will not be fielded on the day.
She said the family will donate Michael’s organs, which will save 15 lives.
“His liver already has a recipient,” said Erasmus.
“Michael had a heart of gold and that is what he would have done.
“It is heart breaking; I don’t know how I’ll cope, but he will be my guardian angel.”
A friend of Erasmus set up a bank account to assist the family to pay for the funeral costs.
To assist, contact Deborah Lewis on 082 561 7689.
