GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Young Jeneil Jafta, who was brutally attacked by dogs in Hornlee on Tuesday 2 June, is fighting towards recovery after his arm had to be amputated over the weekend.
While the exact nature of the attack and the moments that led to it are still not known, Jeneil (11) is believed to have been attacked by three dogs at the Hornlee Sports Grounds at about 14:00 last Tuesday.
According to the Western Cape Department of Health's emergency medical services spokesperson Deanna Bessick, an ambulance was dispatched at 14:22 and transported Jeneil to George Hospital. "The patient was in a critical condition at the time of the incident," she confirmed.
The following day, Jeneil was transported to Cape Town by Air Mercy Services, where he was admitted to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, to undergo further procedures.
He was supported by his mother, Leonie Jafta, who was by his side throughout, and his father, Granville Bond, along with Jeneil's younger brother Grayon, was granted the chance to visit Jeneil in Cape Town over the weekend.
"The doctors provided us with an update on his condition, and he has really bad injuries and bites on his leg and neck," Bond said.
The injuries to Jeneil's neck are so severe that he now has to rely on a feeding tube to ingest food, while other injuries include bleeding on his brain too. Bond also stated that unfortunately, doctors had to amputate his arm at the shoulder over the weekend. "It's his writing and throwing arm, so now he will have to learn those skills all over again."
On Tuesday, Jeneil was due to begin the journey to undergoing a skin graft procedure, as doctors hoped they could replace some of the skin on his legs. However, the procedure was postponed as the boy had started to run a high fever. Jeneil remains in ICU.
Despite all this, Bond had only praise for his son.
"Given how severe his injuries are and how young he is, doctors have also said they are blown away by how he has been able to fight, and continues to fight," he said.
The three dogs that were involved in the attack had to be euthanised by a Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Kaws) inspector, according to the society's manager Annelien Kitley. "We had to put down two pit bulls. A German shepherd that was also involved in the incident, which was brought into Kaws on Wednesday morning, 3 June, was subsequently put down as well," Kitley said.
Knysna Ward 6 councillor Ricky van Aswegen, who has been assisting the family throughout the ordeal, admitted that at times it was tough for him too. "I was at the scene almost just after it happened, and what I saw was horrible, it left me with sleepless nights afterwards."
Van Aswegen said he was sickened by the community's response at the time.
"There was a lot of speculation, and horrible images spread all over social media, and people do not realise how this affected the family," he said.
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