The EWC Express SA truck was travelling from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth and the driver of the Qashqai, Marlene Bakker (61), was returning to Sedgefield after working at the Life Knysna Private Hospital, when they collided head-on. "The cause of the accident is not yet known," said Constable Chris Spies, Knysna SAPS liaison officer.
Bakker's brother, Walter Bakker received a call moments after the accident and raced to the scene where he found his seriously injured sister trapped in the Qashqai. "Usually you get to the hospital after your loved ones have been attended to, but to be one of the first at the scene and find your sister fighting for her life is just awful," said a traumatised Walter.
Walter remained by his sister's side, offering words of comfort and reassurance as emergency personnel battled to free the seriously injured Marlene from her mangled vehicle for almost two hours. The vehicle's roof needed to be removed to allow paramedics easier access to attend to Marlene's many injuries.
At the same time, emergency personnel worked feverishly to free her, but their emergency equipment was unable to lift the engine block high enough off Marlene's leg to free her. Two tow-trucks later attached heavy chains to both front and back of the vehicle and pulled in opposite directions to help free the patient.
As soon as Marlene was freed, she was rushed to the Knysna Life Hospital were it was determined that she had suffered a severely fractured leg and arm, fractured sternum, four fractured ribs and facial injuries. It was originally thought that she might lose her leg, but Walter is now positive that the many attending specialists have prevented that. He added, "Thankfully, she has suffered no internal injuries."
Although Walter was told on arrival at the trauma unit that Marlene's injuries were not life-threatening, he later said that it was "touch and go for some time". A plastic surgeon had operated on Marlene's face to repair a large cut which extended from her eye across her forehead. "We are so grateful that she did not lose the eye."
Walter remarked on how life could change in a heartbeat, "She was returning from working in ICU that night and ended up in the same unit later that afternoon, as a patient." The Bakker family is extremely thankful for all the assistance that Marlene received and have high praise for all the emergency and medical staff attending to her. Walter said that they could not have wished for better care or a better hospital for Marlene. "The nursing staff and doctors have been absolutely wonderful."
While the family is clearly relieved that Marlene is on the road to recovery, they now face a different concern, one that relates to her future. "Marlene had worked abroad for the past 15 years and had decided that she wanted to live in the Garden Route. She returned to South Africa three weeks prior to the accident and was due to start at the Life Knysna Private Hospital on a permanent basis on January 1. Obviously she can't now."
Despite his concern about his sister's future Walter remains positive and once again expressed his gratitude to all who were and are so willing to offer assistance and kindness. "I have lived in Sedgefield for the past five years and the support from this small community has been overwhelming." he said.
In contrast to the severity of Marlene's injuries, the driver of the truck was discharged later the same day with "a bump on his head", and is recuperating well at his home, according to a spokesperson for EWC Express SA.
_500884448.jpg)
Two tow-trucks pulling from either side were used to free a trapped driver from her vehicle, after emergency personnel battled to do so.
