Durban - The young Pietermaritzburg fireman who lost his leg after a hit-and-run accident last October is a little closer to achieving his dream of being the first firefighter with a prosthetic leg to be on active duty.
Kiran Singh, 26, appealed to the public last month for help in raising funds for his new limb.
“Since then, the outpouring of support has been humbling,” he said. “I am so thankful to everyone for their love and encouragement.”
Following his appeal in the Daily News, a doctor in Durban, who specialises in prosthetic surgery, approached Singh and is attempting to assist him.
“My orthopaedic surgeon is forwarding the X-rays of my leg to this doctor. Once that happens we can forge a way forward,” Singh said.
He said it was crucial that the bones in his leg healed properly before any type of prosthetic was fitted.
“The healing process is of vital importance,” Singh said.
He said that since details of his plight were made public through the media, he had been inundated with messages of support and some of financial assistance from the KwaZulu-Natal community.
“Total strangers have taken the trouble to help me. Words cannot express how grateful I am,” he said.
Singh was riding his motorbike on Fields Hill on the M13 when he was struck by a car. The motorist sped away.
Other motorists stopped to help Singh. One helped save his life by tying a cable around his thigh to stop the bleeding.
Due to the severity of the injury, his leg had to be amputated above the knee.
“”Nothing is impossible with the right set of tools and a positive mindset,” he said.
“I will return to active duty one day.”
Singh said he had met other amputees at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium where he attended a charity event two weeks ago.
The event was cancelled because of inclement weather, but Singh said he and the other amputees had spent time sharing their stories.
“It is comforting in a sense to know that one is not alone. There are people out there who understand what you are going through and who have changed their lives through perseverance and determination.”
Singh’s progress may be tracked on his blog: www.sa-firefighter.tumblr.com
Daily News