Baby in coma after bakkie ploughs into shack

A nearly two-year-old girl is fighting for her life in the Steve Biko Hospital after being hit by a bakkie while she was sleeping between her parents in their little shack.

The bakkie came to a halt on top of their bed in the early hours of last Monday morning.

Veronica Khambule stands outside her home where an allegedly drunk driver crashed into her home while she and her family were sleeping, 30 July 2017. Princess Khambule (1) was injured in the accident leaving her in a coma, Eersterust, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Princess Khambule sustained a serious head injury when the bumper of the bakkie hit her on the head.

She has been in a coma since.

Her father, Derrick Khambule, said the tyre of the bakkie stopped right next to him where Princess was fast asleep before the incident.

“My baby was further down on the bed,” he said in a soft voice.

Veronica Khambule sits in her home where an allegedly drunk driver crashed into her home while she and her family were sleeping, 30 July 2017. Princess Khambule (1) was injured in the accident leaving her in a coma, Eersterust, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

As if this was not a harsh enough blow for the family, security guards at the Eersterust Clinic and the Eersterust police failed to help them get help for their seriously injured child.

While her father tried to resuscitate Princess, security guards allegedly chased them away from the clinic gate. Princess’ mother, Veronica Khambule, who is also eight months pregnant, said she screamed and cried for the security guards to at least call a nurse to help her baby, but they would not listen.

They then drove to the police station and asked police to escort them to the hospital but were told by a sergeant on duty that the police’s responsibility was to catch the suspect.

Veronica said it was a miracle that they all survived the incident.

“We all crawled through a hole in the shack and my 10-year-old daughter Nomsa grabbed hold of her four-year-old sister Demakatso and pulled her to safety through the same hole.

“The two children were sleeping in the kitchen area of the shack.”

A neighbour came to their aid after their experience at Eersterust Clinic and rushed them to the Mamelodi Hospital where Princess was taken care of.

“The doctor put her on machines and then instructed an ambulance to transfer her to Steve Biko Hospital,” said Veronica.

Derrick Khambule stands in his home where an allegedly drunk driver crashed into his home while he and his family were sleeping, 30 July 2017. Princess Khambule (1) was injured in the accident leaving her in a coma, Eersterust, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Princess has since been in a coma and might undergo her second operation today to try to stop bleeding on her brain. Gauteng health spokesperson Khutso Rabothata said he was shocked to hear that the security guards chased the family away from a health facility where she could have been helped.

“We are talking about a child’s life. We have these facilities closer to our communities to help our people when they are in need.

“We will definitely investigate this matter and take the necessary steps,” he told The Citizen.

Police spokesperson Sam Shibambo said a man was arrested on the scene for drunken driving.

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