One of South Africa’s future swimming prospects, 13-year-old Shireen Sapiro, is in a critical condition after being caught in a boat propeller while skiing on the Vaal Dam on Friday.
News24.com reported on Wednesday that the young swimmer was on a life-support system in the Union hospital, Alberton. A spokesperson for the hospital said that the youngster’s pelvis had literally been cut in half and her condition was stable, but critical.
The girl’s father, Michael Sapiro, said he was piloting his boat at the time of the accident when his daughter fell off while skiing. His wife and their son, who were both in the boat, immediately raised the safety flag, but another boat failed to see the flag and went over his daughter.
A shocked Sapiro said they pulled his daughter into the boat and the first thing that went through his mind when he held her bleeding body in his arms was she had ”literally been cut in two”.
The young girl was then treated by paramedics and flown to hospital by helicopter.
Inspector Pieter Viljoen of the Vaal Marina area’s water wing said the pilot of the other boat has been charged with reckless and negligent driving.
Andy Pieke of the police said the boat’s pilot appeared in a Heidelberg court on Tuesday, but the case was postponed for further investigation. He was released on R500 bail.
Vivienne Kukard, the youngster’s swimming coach, said the girl’s promising future has tragically been cut short.
”She is a determined and wonderful person and was destined to become one of South Africa’s top swimmers,” Kukard added. — Sapa