HE WAS looking forward to the surgery – in fact, he was quite excited about it. It would mean he’d be free of the backache that had been plaguing him and he’d be able to go hiking with friends, gymming with his brother and gaming with his girlfriend and prepare for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
But things didn’t go as planned for Achmat Hassiem from Strandfontein, Cape Town. Complications from the procedure left the 39-year-old in a coma for weeks and at the time of going to print his family were still waiting for him to wake up.
“I just want to help him,” says his mom, Tho raiyah Hassiem (60). “But there’s nothing we can do – this is our life now. We sit at the hospital the whole day and then come home.”
Achmat made headlines in 2006 when he lost his lower right leg during a great white shark attack at Muizenberg beach while trying to save his young brother, Taariq – a heroic deed that earned him the nickname Sharkboy.
He made a great recovery and started swimming competitively, winning a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
Taariq (32) hopes his brother’s fighting spirit will get him through this latest crisis.
“Doctors are quite happy with the way Achmat’s fighting. They can see that he’s a trooper and a warrior,” he says.
“He could wake up tomorrow, he could wake up in a week, it could be a few weeks, a few months – it’s a waiting game.”
Esta historia es de la edición 7 October 2021 de YOU South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición 7 October 2021 de YOU South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
OUR BRAVE LITTLE FIGHTER
Like her late sister, little Elana was born with a rare lung condition and can't breathe without a ventilator, but her parents are walking this familiar path with courage and hope
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
With his new film, The Fall Guy, Ryan Gosling put stunt doubles centre stage but how hard is it for a complete amateur to master the trade? Journalist Simon Usborne decided to find out
INSPIRATION EVERYWHERE
Irish writer Cecelia Ahern chats to YOU about writing her novels in longhand, her love of Lego and looking forward to her first wine-tasting in South Africa
THE KIDS ARE NOT OKAY
Something happened around 2010 that's had a huge impact on Gen Z, says a new book. It was the start of the phone-based childhood, and it's resulted in a rewiring of kids' brains - and a surge in depression and anxiety
HE'S ON THE BALL
Despite having no lower legs, -Grayton's prowess on the rugby field has made him a social media star
THIS ISN'T JUSTICE
A woman was shot dead by her fiancé, who said he thought she was an intruder. Now her family believe he got off lightly
THE BOSS IN CHARGE OF YOUR CROSS
As chief electoral officer of the IEC, Sy Mamabolo has his hands full these days!
HEARTBREAK AND HOPE
Relatives and loved ones share their stories as rescue efforts continue for the people still trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in George
BLOOMING!
Shes adored by fans and loathed by haters, but like the character she plays in her new movie, Anne Hathaway says shes putting her own Joy first
SUSSEXES' AFRICAN ADVENTURE
Meghan and Harry took Nigeria by storm – but relations with the royal family remain icy