Achmat Hassiem, fondly referred to as ‘Sharkboy’ is slowly making progress after it was announced that the Paralympic swimmer was in a coma. He suffered complications after spinal surgery was performed.
Hassiem has been in hospital for nearly two weeks, but has opened his eyes since as EWN reports, while his family expressed their delight at his progress.
According to his mother Thoraiyah Hassiem, she is confident that her son is on the right path to recovery and could be swimming again, IOL states.
Hassiem is a past pupil at Bergvliet High School, and on Sunday, the principal took to Facebook to make an announcement:
“As a school we are proud of our Paralympic and Eco Warrior hero, winner of a Bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, and we therefore call on the entire Bergvliet High community to lift him and his family up in your prayers. He needs our prayers to overcome perhaps his biggest challenge. We believe that the power of prayer will lift him out of the coma so that he can begin his road to recovery.
“I am mindful that our entire community has had to deal with the loss of family and friends over the past 18 months. Some we are aware are fighting for their lives in ICU, whilst others have passed on. Just over a week ago, one of our parents succumbed to Covid after a month long battle.
“Last year we introduced a Day of Prayer at Bergvliet High School. We will, therefore, hold our second Day of Prayer on Thursday 23 September 2021. On this day our school flag will be flown at half-mast and our staff and learners will be asked to wear black. We will start the day with appropriate readings from the Bible and Koran, representing the major religions of our school. This will be followed by a short time of personal prayer. No learner or staff member will be required to participate but will be encouraged to spend some time in personal reflection.
“We are inviting parents, past staff and past pupils to visit the school next week to spend a short time in prayer in our Garden of Remembrance throughout the day from 07:15 till 15:00. If you can’t get to school then please use our Facebook page to post a message or prayer.”
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