VCA issues heartbreaking statement over tragedy
La Lucia school says it is struggling to come to terms with tragedy.
IT has been a week since the tragic accident on the R102 which claimed the lives of four Victory Christian Academy pupils on the R102. The children, in their mid-teens, were travelling in a mini-bus with about 12 people on their way back from an adventure camp when a truck collided head-on with the mini-bus.
Tamia Sewparsad, 13, Saisha Shampersad, 14, Andrea Thaver, 17, and Caitlyn Oliver, 14, were killed in the accident while teacher, Kris Ackerman, who was seriously injured, is still on a ventilator and in an induced coma. Another pupil injured in the accident, Muhle Qwabe, is on a ventilator and has swelling on the brain.
The school has now issue a statement thanking the local community for their support and continued prayers.
“Friday June 12, 2015 will always be etched in our hearts and minds as we received devastating news that our students traveling from our annual leadership camp were involved in a tragic accident on the R102. The accident claimed the lives of four of our best students and left one of our teachers and one student critical in hospital.
“Since then we have been struggling to come to terms with this unprecedented tragedy in the history of our school. It has left us overwhelmed with grief as we have rallied around to assist and support the parents, families, students and teachers. Over the past week we had to say farewell to our brightest girls. The girls we have lost in this tragedy were not merely students of our school, they were our very own, we feel the pain as a family.
The Durban North Umhlanga Crisis Team, made up of professional counselors, has been at the school since last Friday to assist parents, students and teachers deal with the tragic event.
“We would like express gratitude to the community, religious leaders, parents, ward councillors and the Department of Education for their overwhelming love, prayers and support. We urge the community to keep praying for our school, the families affected and for those still in hospital.
“Our focus right now is to assist our students, parents, teachers and staff get through this most difficult time. We will continue to honour and celebrate the lives of the four beautiful souls that have gone far too soon from us. They have left an indelible mark on all our lives. They will never be forgotten,” it said.
A memorial service will be held at the school on Thursday June 25, 10.30am – Victory Christian Academy, 34 Ronan Road, La Lucia.
