TANDO NKUNGWANA
Border angling star and George Randall High School matric pupil Dylan Botha has finally emerged from his coma after a tragic car accident on January 18 on his way home from an angling competition.
The details of the accident remain unclear and by print deadline, SAPS had not provided further clarity on circumstances that led to the accident.
Botha is said to be out of the induced coma and even though his breathing remains assisted through oxygen machinery, out of 18 breaths, he is now able to take seven on his own.
His family revealed to the GO!&Express that Dylan’s chances of recovery are improving every day as he is now able to open his eyes, make slight movements and cough intermittently.
According to Dylan’s mother Shelly, he underwent a tracheostomy last week which is a procedure done to help air and oxygen reach his lungs by creating an opening into the trachea from outside the neck.
Shelly said: “We are grateful for any little improvement; we are holding onto that. I am grateful my son is still alive.
“We are hopeful that this will assist him and bring him closer to recovery.”
His family confessed they will forever be traumatised by Dylan’s accident but take comfort in the fact that he is displaying signs of recovery.
Last week, Bilimoria Fishing Tackle’s auction for Dylan’s medical expenses raked in R97,000. This comes after the local business hosted their first successful auction for Dylan immediately following the accident that generated R52,000.
Bilmoria’s marketing director Andrew MacLachlan reaffirmed that the angling community are in full support of Dylan Botha and are hopeful for his recovery.
MacLachlan said: “We are thrilled that the angling community, and the East London community in general came out in support of this young man. It just goes to show how many people have big hearts and care so deeply for Dylan.
“He is making some improvements, so we are all just holding thumbs and praying continuously.”
Additionally, the Back-a-Buddy fundraising page that was started on January 19 has managed to raise more than R250,000, surpassing the set target.
Shelly said the family is deeply humbled by the outpouring of support from the East London community — support they never would have imagined would be extended to their family.
She explained: “We are so humbled, and we are so grateful. Never in a million years would I have imagined this sort of response. We are extremely grateful as his family.
“Thank you to everyone for all the love, care, and prayers.”
Eastern Cape department of transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the department had ongoing road awareness safety campaigns that aimed to encourage road users to exercise more caution and care.
Binqose said: “Schools have been one of our most prominent avenues for raising road-safety awareness. We are targeting young motorists like Dylan, future motorists, and pedestrians alike.
“We believe that this will encourage young people to be responsible road users both now and in the future.”
Binqose added that reckless and negligent driving are the most common cause of accidents, and that the condition of the roads is an added disadvantage. Nonetheless all road users must practise safe driving.
“Road safety is everybody’s responsibility; let us all play our role and be responsible at all times,” Binqose said.
