Help for young boy who lost arm in crocodile attack
Seven-year-old Johandré Blom survived a crocodile attack, and now he needs help from the Angels to heal.
Seven-year-old Johandré Blom, his dad Corné, and mom Amanda joined friends for a fishing trip at a dam near Brits this past public holiday.
Johandré and his friend Dylan were playing in the shallow water, just metres from where their dads had their fishing lines in the water.
In a flash, their laid-back day turned into a nightmare when a large crocodile grabbed Johandré and dragged him into the water.
Dylan screamed, and Corné rushed into the water, grabbing onto his son.
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The crocodile spun them around, but Corné managed to free Johandré, only to realise that his left arm had been torn off.
Corné rushed him to the hospital and was met on the way by emergency services. Johandré was stabilised and flown to a hospital in Alberton, where he remains in a medically induced coma.
It's a miracle that Johandré survived, but now the long road to recovery lies ahead.
His parents have been by his side, while family, friends, and Johandré’s school, Laerskool Broederstroom, have been raising funds for his costly medical treatment.
The family does not currently have medical aid, and Corné has already sold what he could to pay the mounting hospital bills.
Several listeners from the fishing, school, and Hartbeespoort communities have asked Good Morning Angels to assist the family as they support little Johandré on his long road to recovery.
@jacabreakfast Young Johandré Blom lost his arm in a crocodile attack! #GoodMorningAngels and our beautiful donors assisted the seven-year-old with almost R400,000 on his road to recovery 😇 #BreakfastWithMartinBester #FYP #ChangingLivesForGood #CrocodileAttack ♬ original sound - Breakfast with Martin Bester
REQUEST FOR: Corné Blom, father of seven-year-old Johandré Blom
REQUEST FROM: Various listeners, including family friend Jaun van der Merwe
ANGEL 1: Anonymous
SPONSORING: An anonymous donor, part of the "South Africans with a heart" group, has donated R25,000 to the Good Morning Angels Fund for Johandré’s medical needs.
ANGEL 2: We Buy Cars
SPONSORING: We Buy Cars has donated R50,000 towards Johandré's medical costs.
ANGEL 3: Anonymous
SPONSORING: Another anonymous donor has contributed R50,000 to the Good Morning Angels Fund for Johandré’s medical expenses.
ANGEL 4: The Good Morning Angels Fund NPC
SPONSORING: The Good Morning Angels Fund will contribute R100,000 towards Johandré’s medical needs after surviving the crocodile ordeal.
Thanks to additional donors putting up their hands on Wednesday morning, Good Morning Angels managed to raise R310,000 for young Johandré in one hour.
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ORIGINAL REQUESTS:
Goeiedag Angels,
Ek deel vandag die onderstaande met julle met die hoop dat julle die seuntjie en sy ouers sal help. Die seuntjie is op 21 Maart deur 'n krokodil by Roodekoppiesdam aangeval en het sy linkerarm verloor. Hy is tans in 'n mediese koma in Alberton.
Ons is 'n klein groepie ywerige vissermanne en -vroue wat een van ons lede wil help in hierdie tyd van nood. Ek het die skakel van die berig hieronder aangeteken.
Familievriend Jaun van der Merwe kan help met meer inligting.
By voorbaat dankie.
Good morning everyone,
This is not an easy message to send, but we need your help for an emergency.
As you may have heard, there was a crocodile attack yesterday at Roodekoppies Dam. Sadly, the victim is the son of one of our members and friends.
He is currently stable in hospital after being airlifted, but the medical costs are astronomical, and we want to help the family as much as possible.
We will not be answering questions about the incident at this time, as our focus is on the child’s well-being. I have offered to assist the family so they can concentrate on their son’s recovery. Any questions can be directed to me, but please keep them to a minimum.
If anyone is able to assist with a financial contribution, you can donate to the bank account below. I will ensure that all funds raised reach the family as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support.
Jaun van der Merwe
PLEASE HELP!
A family fishing trip turned into a nightmare on Friday when a seven-year-old boy’s arm was ripped off by a crocodile near Brits.
Johandré Blom (7) is currently in an induced coma in a hospital in Alberton.
Johandré, his father, Corné, and mother, Amanda, from Hartbeespoort were at a fishing resort at Roodekopjes Dam with friends when the crocodile attacked.
Johandré and his friend Dylan Bekker were playing in the shallow water a few metres from where their fathers were fishing when a huge crocodile grabbed Johandré.
“Dylan screamed and grabbed Johandré, trying to pull him away from the crocodile,” said Jannie Bekker, Dylan’s father.
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“Johandré’s father Corné dived in and grabbed Johandré. By this time, the crocodile had already spun Johandré around three times. Corné is a big man, and while he was holding onto Johandré, he was also spun around,” Bekker said.
“The moment Corné managed to pull Johandré free, he saw his left arm was missing. They were both in total shock, and I pulled them to the shore.”
Bekker immediately applied pressure to the wound by wrapping it in towels, and Corné rushed his son to Brits. Meanwhile, Hartbeespoort Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) was alerted and met Corné and Johandré along the way.
Johandré was stabilised in Brits and then flown by emergency helicopter to a hospital in Alberton for specialised care.
“He is stable, but they are keeping him in an induced coma until Monday,” Bekker said.
“It was a monster of a crocodile. After Johandré was saved, a young man went out in a boat to see if he could find the arm, and the crocodile went for the boat.”
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO RAISE FUNDS – THE BOY WAS AIRLIFTED TO ALBERTON FROM BRITS
Ons het julle hulp nodig
Angling community, let's stand together
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/johandre-needs-help-after-crocodile-attack
We have started a BackaBuddy campaign for Johandré’s medical costs at the link above. This will also ensure transparency regarding the funds received and used.
Please share the link everywhere you can to create awareness for the campaign. 💙
Regards,
Shaun Blom
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Image: Supplied