GEORGE NEWS - Alison Botha, the miraculous survivor of a savage gang rape and attack in 1994, has been in hospital for the past two weeks, fighting for her life after suffering a brain aneurysm.
Botha, now in her 50s, achieved fame after she recovered and went on to inspire and amaze audiences across the world with her story of courage and overcoming the seemingly impossible.
Tania Koen, Botha's attorney, says she is in the high care unit of a public hospital as she has no medical aid.
"The extent of the damage caused by the aneurysm has not been fully established yet, but it is expected that she would need care and rehabilitation services, if she is discharged. It is still very uncertain at this stage."
Following the release on parole of her merciless attackers, Theuns Kruger and Frans du Toit, on 4 July last year, Botha has been living in fear that they would seek retribution. Koen said the release was a huge setback for Botha emotionally and physically. "She has been under tremendous stress and her health has been deteriorating."
She will be unable to earn an income as motivational speaker because of the public nature of the work.
Kruger and Du Toit had abducted Botha, at the time aged 26, in Noordhoek near Gqeberha before they raped her, disembowelled her by stabbing her 30 times in the stomach and slit her throat multiple times, nearly beheading her.
They left her for dead, but she managed to scribble their names in the sand before crawling to the side of the road where a passer-by stopped to help. That passer-by was Dr Tiaan Eilerd. He stayed by her side, holding her hand and talking to her, eventually also riding with her in the ambulance that came to fetch her.
Eilerd, who has remained a friend of Botha, said since the Covid pandemic she has experienced financial stress and could no longer afford medical aid.
"When her attackers were released, it added to the stress and definitely had an impact on her wellbeing. She is not the kind of person who would ask for help, and always puts her own health on the backburner for the sake of others' needs."
The fact that Eilerd's path crossed that of Botha had a huge impact on his life and was the reason he became a medical doctor.
His decision to follow that direction took him to places where he met people, also his wife, whom he probably would not have met if it were not for that night when he helped Botha.
Dr Tiaan Eilerd with Alison at the release of her film. Photo supplied
In a statement last year after the murderous rapists' release, the Department of Correctional Services said the two men had served the minimum time required of their life sentences. They were admitted into the system of community corrections and would be subjected to supervision for the rest of their lives.
In Botha's book, I have life, she tells of her horrific ordeal and amazing recovery. Her gruesome experience was also chronicled in the film Alison, released in 2016.
She refused to be a victim and gave birth to two sons despite the initial prognosis that she might not be able to bear children due to her injuries.
One of the sons is at university and the other in matric.
ALSO READ: Alison speaks some words after surgery
People who would like to donate towards Botha's current and future costs, are asked to use the following trust account details: Nedbank Trust Account Number 1302 2304 92. For international donations, include SWIFT code NEDSZAJJ.
Botha's legal team and other professionals who have stepped forward will administer the account.
Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger. Photo: 'I have Life'
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