American actress, Ashley Judd praises South African hospital after accident in Congo

“I am in a lot of love, I am in a lot of compassion, and I am in a lot of gratitude,” said the 52-year-old American actress Ashley Judd who is currently hospitalised in South Africa after her leg was ‘shattered’ in an accident in the Congo.

The star reflected on her accident on an Instagram Live interview with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.

Judd explained that she fell from a tree and spent the next 55 hours in pain until she was finally admitted to the trauma ward of the intensive care unit (ICU) at Sunninghill Hospital, on 12 February. She explained that the experience further illuminated the privilege she held as a person of means visiting the Congo. She explained during the Instagram live, “The difference between a Congolese person and me is disaster insurance that allowed me 55 hours after my accident to get to an operating table in South Africa.”

Judd said the hospital staff helped her through both the physical and emotional trauma of the ordeal, which enabled her to ‘transition’ in preparation for surgery.

She extended her gratitude to the staff at the hospital, “From the first staff who touched my leg and touched my spirit in the emergency department. Those doctors and nurses, I can’t remember their names because I was in so much trauma,” said Judd in an exclusive in an interview with IOL.

Peter Louw, general manager at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital said they are grateful for Judd’s kind words. “We were pleased that the specialists and staff at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital were able to provide Ms Judd with the medical intervention and care she required recently as we always aim to provide the best and safest care to all our patients,” he said.

“We wish her a full recovery and all the best for the future. We are grateful for her kind words regarding the care she received at our hospital, and we thank her for her encouragement,” Louw concluded.