Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Bay volunteer firefighter who was seriously injured earlier this month while dealing with a structural fire in Harkerville, is back home after a week in hospital.
When a section of the shed he was busy hosing down on 1 September collapsed on him, the 52-year-old Ollie Olivier sustained severe head injuries, multiple fractures to several vertebrae in his neck and burn wounds. Olivier was fighting the fire along with other members of the local fire management unit (FMU).
He was rushed to a Mossel Bay hospital and received treatment there before being released a week later, on 8 September.
Lorraine, Olivier's wife, said this week that she is very relieved to have him back home, albeit in a neck brace that he has to wear day and night. “He is still in a lot of pain and quite heavily medicated, but he is in good spirit,” she said, adding that the road to recovery would be a long one.
“He is moving around and can walk a few steps around the house, but he has not been able to venture outside just yet. We are also just so relieved that he can move around.”
Lorraine said her husband has an appointment with a neurologist next week to check his progress.
She reiterated how grateful they were for the support and well wishes from not only friends, family and neighbours, but also the greater Bitou community.
Read a previous article: Fireman face biggest challenge ever
ARTICLE & PHOTO: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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