Cape Town – A Durban teenage girl who was involved in a freak accident during an action-karting race at Gateway Mall last week has reportedly suffered serious spinal injuries.
Reports indicated that the 15-year-old was in ICU with multiple spinal injuries and a torn scalp after her hair got tangled in her go-kart last Wednesday.
She suffered a spinal fracture, spinal cord damage and a torn aorta which led to a haemorrhage, reports said.
According to the girl’s father, Vernon Govender, Kristen is “now responsive and talking” but still has no movement from her waist down, IOL reported.
“She has no mobility from her waist down, she can’t move or has any feeling in her legs. Doctors have said that since she is fairly young, they would not risk taking her to the theatre now.
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“She has a blood clot in her spinal column as well and, according to doctors, it’s too risky to operate. We just have to give her some time, with the medication and some sort of therapy we remain optimistic, ” the report quoted Govender as saying.
However, Govender could still not explain how the incident happened, as his daughter was wearing a helmet with her hair tied into a ponytail, reported TimesLIVE.
“My focus is for her to get better, walk out of the hospital and go back to school. There are a lot of answers I need but I will deal with things regarding the incident after my daughter is home with us,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
The report said the mall management representatives were in contact with Kristen’s father after the incident but would not comment further on the incident “due to the sensitive nature of the incident and respect for the family”.
“Where possible the centre will assist with any information, reports and details needed by the family,” the mall was quoted saying.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
