THE partner of one of the people injured in the multiple vehicle accident on the N3, near the Westville on-ramp, on Monday night, has asked for prayers for the man she loves “more than anything in the world.”
On Monday night an accident, described by a witness as a chain-reaction, resulted in 10 people being seriously injured.
Leon Fourie, spokesperson for Life Response, confirmed 10 vehicles were involved in the accident.
One of the injured has been identified as Mike Van Rooyen, a 32-year-old admin manager who lives in Hillcrest.
Kayla Rix, who lives with Van Rooyen, said they had been halfway through making dinner at home when he was called by his boss to photograph the accident.
Accident
“He rushed out to attend to it,” she said.
“That was obviously before it had become a big thing.”
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Rix said according to the information they have been able to piece together, Van Rooyen was found unconscious.
“We’re assuming the truck hit his car and the car hit him. He was out of the car, we know that for sure,” said Rix on Wednesday.
She was able to see him in the hospital on Wednesday and reported he was currently in a coma.
She said doctors were monitoring his condition.
In a Facebook post, Rix described Van Rooyen as a truly spectacular human being.
“He is kind, loving, generous, brave, supportive, and most importantly, so strong,” she wrote on her wall on Tuesday (15 September).
“In the past 24 hours he has survived the accident itself, getting through the night with a temporarily inoperable brain swell, surgery this morning, in which a piece of his skull was removed, and now he is stable and his blood pressure is being described as really good. He has no broken bones, very few cuts and scratches and he’s extremely responsive to our touches and voices,” she wrote.
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Rix said she is grateful to have the privilege of having Mike in her life and described how, even from a hospital bed while unconscious, he continues to influence her positively.
“He makes me want to be better every single day, which he is somehow even managing to do while sedated and unable to communicate with those who love him the most!”
Rix, who said she and Van Rooyen had spoken about getting married the evening before the accident, said she is sure he will recover even though he hasn’t opened his eyes since the accident.
She saw him briefly a few hours after the accident on Monday night and his parents were the only ones allowed to see him on Tuesday before his surgery.
While his parents were visiting, his father video called Rix so that his son would have an opportunity to hear the voice of the woman he loves.
Prayers
Asking for prayers Rix said she believes even though he is still unconscious, he knows and can feel the prayers of so many people in the community and around the world.
“He may not be awake, but I know without a doubt that he knows we’re there! Prayers, thoughts, vibes and everything else positive is so appreciated because we have no doubt that it’s working! Thank you so much to everyone who has shown support so far, we are so grateful. Let’s please, please, please, keep it up!” she said.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
