WAITING FOR ACTION: Viarshan Naidoo, who was left with head injuries and paralysed after being hit by a car seven months ago, with his mother, Anusha, and father, Vasie Picture: KEVIN SUTHERLAND

'We have sold everything we had to care for him'

But it all came crashing down seven months ago after a night out with friends in Randburg, Gauteng, when he was hit by a vehicle along Malibongwe Highway in the early hours of the morning.

Naidoo, 24, was trying to push his car, which had stalled on the road, when tragedy struck.

The driver of the other vehicle allegedly fled the scene.

Naidoo sustained severe head injuries and his left arm and leg were paralysed.

His family say police have yet to take a statement from the driver of the vehicle believed to have crashed into Naidoo.

Randburg police spokesman Superintendent Lucia Booyse said that investigations into the accident were continuing.

She said the docket was forwarded to the public prosecutor, who asked that further investigations be conducted.

Meanwhile, Naidoo's family are sitting with medical bills in excess of R1-million and have had to sell their house and move in with relatives.

Now Naidoo needs to undergo cranioplasty - surgery to correct his skull and remove the pressure on his brain - which will set them back another R120000.

His parents, Vasie and Anusha, said they had run out of cash to pay for his new operation.

After Naidoo had spent nearly four months in various hospitals, the family said they were forced to take him home in August because they could no longer afford the cost.

They have sold their house and some of their assets to pay his medical bills for operations at various private institutions in Johannesburg, including Netcare Auckland Park and Milpark hospitals. They have had to move in with Naidoo's grandmother in Lenasia.

His basic care costs about R5000 a month.

His father said that in addition to their financial crisis, they were distraught that no one had been charged for the tragedy.

He said his son's life had changed overnight and they were "disappointed" that no one had been held accountable.

"We have sold everything we had to care for him," said his father.

His mother said doctors had told them their son would not survive, "but with faith and prayer, he is still with us today".