Young couple ties the knot in hospital

Two Randfonteiners tied the knot in a hospital after one had a near-death experience, realising life is too short to wait.

Anina, 23, and Gerrie Labuschagne, 24, got married on Thursday 16 December after being together for seven years and being engaged for six months.

The wedding took place six days after Gerrie had a freak accident in an industrial mixer. He was doing routine maintenance on the machine when the blades accidentally were turned on.

He sustained a laceration to his right upper thigh, exposing the bone.

All the doctors who saw him said he was very lucky and he must have had someone looking over him,” said Anina.

Fortunately the laceration caused no nerve or vascular damage, it only cut through the muscles in his leg. Gerrie has had two surgeries so far and will need physio therapy to recover completely.

The initial wedding date was set for 25 November, but owing to financial problems the pair had to postpone it.

“We decided to set another date when we had enough money to pay for everything ourselves.

After the accident we realised how short life is and if he hadn’t been able to pull himself out he would not be with us today. The thought of being without him and not being able to say I have married my soulmate lead us to getting married in hospital as soon as possible,” Anina explained.

Closest family members including Gerrie’s mother and stepfather attended the unusual wedding ceremony. They came all the way from Durban.

“Everybody contributed to make the day perfect. We are so grateful for that. It’s humbling to know we have such special people in our lives,” she said.

When the Herald asked if it was weird for Gerrie to now have someone to call his wife he said, “Not at all. We’ve been together for such a long time. It’s just amazing now to have her officially as my wife.”

Gerrie said when he’s out of hospital and healed he will go back to work.

I’m not scared at all to go back. I love my job. I actually look forward to it.”

Randfontein being the small town it is brought SPCA inspector Janette Muller’s sister, Heidi van Owell and the persevering couple together. Heidi is a photographer and offered to take their wedding photos free of charge.

“She is such a beautiful person,” Anina commented.

The pair thanks Randfontein Private Hospital (Lenmed) for giving them permission and providing them with assistance for the unconventional wedding.

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