Matric hit by VIP car leaves hospital

2012-03-17 11:32

Johannesburg - Thomas Ferreira, the matric pupil who was critically injured after being knocked down by a VIP vehicle in November, left the rehabilitation centre and went home, according to reports on Saturday.

On Friday, Ferreira strolled around the Riverfield Lodge Rehabilitation Centre, in Fourways, excited and talking to staff and his friends on his last day, the Saturday Star reported.

"I'm so excited to go home. I'm certainly going to miss my friends here, but I'm really tired of this place, and I don't enjoy the food much," the 19-year-old told the newspaper.

Ferreira was riding his motorcycle on November 5, when he was struck by housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi's official car.

Witnesses allege that the car jumped a red light, and that Mmemezi was immediately whisked from the scene by two bodyguards.

He couldn't do anything when he arrived at rehab, he was helpless, his father Paul Ferreira told the newspaper.

"Also the right side of his body was completely paralysed. When we met with doctors to look at his scans things didn't look too good."

His parents said they are overjoyed that Thomas was returning home but that there was still a long way to full recovery, according to the report.

The cost of the rehabilitation centre was reportedly around R120 000 a month.

Ferreira's parents said they had not received a "single cent" from the government after Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said the state would pay for his medical bills.

- SAPA