Fourways resident Russell Gouveia is still in agony after sustaining multiple injuries in a road accident on 10 May.
Gouveia lost control of his vehicle which hit a wall head-on and proceeded to ramp over a fence and roll down an embankment.
His wife Alzira only discovered that her husband was involved in an accident when she called to check on him. “To her absolute horror, it wasn’t her loving husband’s voice on the other end of the line, but rather a frantic, unknown woman, standing at the scene of a horrific car accident involving Russell, which took place right opposite Life Fourways Hospital,” read part of a statement which was released to Fourways Review by his daughter Danica.
A bystander stopped and tried to phone Life Fourways Hospital but was unable to get through. However, two family friends who had witnessed the accident stopped and managed to contact emergency services at the hospital. Paramedics arrived on the scene and struggled for close to two hours to free Gouveia from the wreckage. Eventually, they resorted to cutting off the roof of the vehicle to access Gouveia.
Upon evaluation by the paramedics, Gouveia appeared to be in a critical condition with multiple exposed fractures and breaks to the legs and lower spine, bad bruising to the lungs and extremities, plus severe blood loss.
He was rushed across the road to Fourways Life Hospital, where doctors stabilised him. Despite not having adequate finances for a costly operation on his right leg, the family felt it was in Gouveia’s best interest to proceed with the surgery. The surgery lasted four hours, with the surgeons managing to reconstruct his femur, knee and ankle.
He has responded well but still needs more operations before he can start therapy.
His family is appealing to anyone who is able to make any financial contribution to assist in getting Gouveia on the road to recovery.
Details: Donors can contact Danica on 082 219 8312.
