A newly married Nelson Mandela Bay couple are facing their first major hurdle together after the 27-year-old husband was left in a critical condition following a freak diving accident at Sundays River.
Petrus Nel, a diesel technician, struck his head on a sandbank while diving from a fishing boat near the slipway on Wednesday last week, and nearly drowned.
The impact resulted in severe spinal injuries, further complicated by the near-drowning incident.
The avid fisherman is being treated at Livingstone Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he has been for nearly a week.
Nel and a group of friends had been on his fishing boat when he dived into the water.
As he entered the water, his head hit a sandbank, resulting in the life-threatening injury.
His friends quickly rescued him from the water and brought him to the slipway.
Emergency Medical Services area manager Ashwell Botha said that upon their arrival, paramedics found Nel unresponsive and clinically compromised on the dry ground.
He said the man was immediately rushed to Livingstone Hospital.
His wife, Bianca, has remained by his side as he fights to recover.
“Seeing him like that is eating me alive,” she said on Monday, describing the emotional toll the incident had taken on the family.
“I just pray he gets better soon.
“He is my best friend, my lover, my hero, and now my husband ... I don’t know what I would do without him.
“He is the best husband and I know that I have got more than I deserve.”
The couple tied the knot on December 7 2024.
Bianca said the incident had been traumatising.
“I never want to relive a moment like that.
“He is a very active man so it’s not nice seeing a man always busy and working, now with his hands strapped to a bed, not being able to do what he wants.
“It also took a really big toll on his father. I have not left the hospital since he was admitted. He is my whole life,” she said.
Bianca said though Nel remained in ICU, he had since become responsive.
However, his left leg and foot remained numb, understandably due to the damage caused to his spine.
She said they were now holding on to the hope that with intensive physiotherapy, he would continue to improve.
“I love and miss him.
“I just want him to get better. He is strong and I am positive he will get through this,” she said.
On Monday, Botha confirmed Nel was still in ICU, where he is receiving physiotherapy and has shown progress in moving his upper limbs.
Botha said the nurses said he might soon be moved to a general ward.
“He suffered a C-spine fracture, but ICU staff reported that he is doing well.”
HeraldLIVE
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