Cyclist tells of horror crash
2009-11-12 10:08
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Accidents
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Pretoria - An injured cyclist was only informed of the death of her cycling partner nine weeks after he was knocked over and killed by a car.
Anke Zenker, 32, was seriously injured in the accident in which Gerhard de Bruyn, 39, was killed on August 16.
"In the beginning they told me I was cycling alone. That didn't sound like me," said Zenker this week.
She has now known for the past three weeks that De Bruyn died, but it still feels unreal to her.
"It feels as though it wasn't me. I hear the stories and they're really bad, but it feels like I am an outsider. It will probably hit home when I return to normal life."
Seriously injured
Zenker said she could remember nothing of the accident. A car that was overtaking another vehicle hit her and De Bruyn.
They were heading back to Pretoria after a practice ride to Cullinan.
A few hours later, De Bruyn died due to his injuries in the 1 Military Hospital in Thaba Tshwane.
Zenker was admitted to the high care unit of the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. She had injuries to her shoulder, knees, face and head. The right part of the body was also partially paralysed.
Zenker was in a coma for five weeks and was then sedated.
She was then transferred to Muelmed Hospital in Pretoria, and was discharged last Monday.
Partner's widow also hit by car
In January, De Bruyn's wife, Major Estelle de Bruyn, 35, of the army headquarters in Pretoria, was seriously injured when she was hit by a truck while on her bicycle. Since the accident in which her husband was killed, she has constantly been at Zenker's bedside.
They met each other earlier this year when Major De Bruyn was doing rehabilitation. Zenker, a swimming instructor, came to help her one day when she was unable to get in and out of the pool due to her injuries.
Major De Bruyn has still not completely recovered. She can't sit still for long and can't lie on her stomach. "Not one of us was meant to live, but here both of us are.
"I believe we were put on each other's way for a reason. I have been through what she is going through. I know her frustration but she has a fighting spirit."
Both said they would cycle again, but this time on mountain bikes. "I will only cycle if the road is closed to motorists," said Zenker.