OUR family was recently struck with tragedy.
Our beloved Daniel used to live on our property and work next door at the complex.
He fell down the stairs and my son found him.
My mother immediately pressed the panic button but Daniel succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
ADT responded within seconds and contacted an ambulance.
I arrived home minutes later and called our crime-line community leaders, fearing that the emergency services would take long.
Daniel was lying on the steps, battling to breathe. Our community leaders contacted a paramedic who lives in the area as well as other response teams.
They were all so supportive. The response time was phenomenal and during this very scary time there was so much support.
They treated Daniel with so much respect and gave him all the care that he deserved, unfortunately, he did pass away leaving his wife and two sons behind.
He was the breadwinner.
Daniel touched our lives in such a special way and he was my nine-year-old son’s best friend for the last four years.
Daniel was amazing. He would get up early every morning, feed the bunnies, clean the pool, then go off to work before 7.30am.
He would come home at lunch time, sweep and go back to work.
He would finish work at about 4pm everyday and without fail he would come in and call my son.
They would play marbles, or on the tablet or soccer.
No matter the weather, no matter how tired he was, he would find time for my son.
They had the most beautiful and amazing relationship and it breaks my heart that he is gone.
Daniel would, with his small salary, always buy a little treat for my son.
If he heard the ice-cream truck, the two of them would run up the road holding hands to buy ice-cream and come back, both grinning from ear to ear, licking their soft serve.
They would often be seen walking to SPAR together holding hands.
They were best friends and Daniel was a part of our family.
We are all so sad and will miss the happy-go-lucky and kind man that he was.
My son will miss him more than anyone, I think. I wish we were able to help his family out but we don’t have the means to do so at the moment.
But I really, really wanted to thank the New Germany Crime Community Watch team, our neighbours, ADT, LAPD, Netcare 911 and ER24 for helping Daniel and giving him the best possible chance.
We feel really blessed to live in such an amazing community.
Samantha Fraser
New Germany
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