GEORGE NEWS - A social media influencer and biker from George is still fighting to save his legs after an accident on the Old Airport Road on Christmas day, near the Maalgate Bridge.
All this while he is actively trying to raise funds for himself and co-patients at the Groote Schuur Hospital through an initiative he calls the Kartelsquad.
Paul Botha, or Lefty*, as he is known by his fellow bikers and friends, is a tattoo artist who last year moved to George and opened shop in town. He is currently a patient at the Groote Schuur Hospital and underwent his first surgery on Monday 23 January.
According to Botha's post on his Back-a-Buddy fundraising page, he was involved in a hit-and-run accident around 20:30, just after the stop/go outside town. Botha was on his way from George to visit friends in Groot Brak River when he got hit by a car.
"A gentleman hit his breaks [sic] in front of me for no reason just after the stop and go outside of George on the old road," reads his post. "I swerved out and when I was next to him on the driver's side, he turned his steering wheel and hit me. I kept the bike on the road but he perused to hit me again whereby I ran off the road, hit a poll [sic]and took the poll [sic] out the ground. I then went into a ditch where my Aprilia RSV4 and myself started rolling and I ended up on a bunch of rocks."
In communication with Botha it was evident that he is in a lot of pain. "I am positive, but the pain... it is so much," he said in a voice note earlier this week.
Alaric Jacobs, the principal communications officer at Groote Schuur Hospital, confirmed Botha's admission on 19 January. Botha was earlier treated in George Hospital since the night of the accident. "The doctors have indicated that Mr Botha has severe injuries with bad fractures on both his legs and infections. There is a possibility that he could lose both his legs," said Jacobs. "The first surgery yesterday [23 January] went very well and the hospital will do its best to make sure he does not lose his legs. We pray for a speedy recovery for Mr Botha."
Botha is currently fighting septicemia and bacterial infections. He had to close his business and doesn't know when he would be able to open up again.
Read more about his accident and fundraising progress at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/paul-botha-5500079147429158476 and follow his story and another fundraising campaign called "Kartelsquad" for other patients and nurses on TikTok @lkarteltattoosociety.
* An Indian friend back in Bloemfontein started calling Paul "Lefto's", because he is a left handed tattoo artist by trade. "It just stuck", said Paul Botha. "Ironically my left leg is the one that received the more serious knock during the accident."
A happy photo of Lefty and his motorcycle.
Lefty (left) on the job in his tattoo parlour.
Lefty's motorbike after the accident.
On his way to Cape Town in an ambulance, following treatment in George Hospital.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
