Family and friends are devastated after Faigon Mentoor was killed two days before his eighth birthday.
Faigon’s parents were on their way home to Delft after visiting relatives in Manenberg when their car was involved in an accident on Govan Mbeki Road on Tuesday.
Faigon’s head hit the windscreen and he suffered severe head injuries.
The driver of the car, according to relative Heidie Hurling, has been arrested.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Daniels said an ambulance that was transporting the injured Faigon was en route to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital when it was stoned, along with several other motorists, on the N2 near Borcherds Quarry.
When the ambulance stopped, the crew were robbed at gunpoint, he said.
“They were transporting a critically injured eight-year-old patient, who sustained severe head injuries after being involved in an earlier motor vehicle accident.”
A second ambulance was then dispatched to transport the patient, but the trauma to Faigon’s head “was so
severe” that he died eleven hours later.
“It is a very difficult time for the family.
“It is very sad that he had to die a few days before his
birthday tomorrow,” said
Hurling.
While she declined to say the delays in getting Faigon to Red Cross, due to the ambulance being brought to a standstill and the paramedics robbed, directly resulted in his death, she indicated Faigon was brain dead by the time he got to the hospital and would not have survived anyway.
“Miracles do happen and every minute is crucial for patients with head injuries.
“We condemn people attacking ambulances because surely they could have
anticipated that there was a patient in need in that ambulance.”
Faigon’s uncle, Michial Mentoor, said: “It’s been a long day without you my friend and I will tell you all about it when I see you again. RIP Faigy (Faigon) you will be missed by many, many, more.”