Francois Boshoff, a 21-year-old employee at his family owned business Timber and Spec from Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal, faced an unexpected challenge which tested his resilience and altered the course of his life in the blink of an eye. What started out as a peaceful holiday outing at Buffelspoort Dam in the North West for the Boshoff family turned into a nightmare on the morning of 1 April 2024 when an engine fire engulfed their boat due to a faulty fuel pipe which broke, leaking fuel into the hull of the boat and causing the fire to ignite when the boat was started, leaving Francois with severe second-degree burns.
Pictured above: 21-year-old Francois Boshoff driving their family boat before the the accident
“We are long-standing club members at the Buffelspoort Boat Club. We go to the club for almost every holiday when the weather is good, except in winter. The boat had its yearly COF (certificate of fitness) done the week before Easter. The incident happened on Easter Monday. The day before the incident, the “safety officer” had done his inspection of the boat where everything was compliant. We had refurbished the boat, working on it ourselves for over 2 years from 2020. It’s a beautiful 1980’s American Skier which we inherited from my grandpa before he passed so it’s a very sentimental boat. The boat was in full use from December 2022 and we had been using it the entire Easter holiday. This was such a freak accident that literally happened on the last morning of the holiday.” says Francois’ sister Charllene.
Francois, along with his parents David (58) and Colleen-Anne (52), was fortunate to escape, but the physical toll this incident had on Francois was profound. His left arm and left leg bore the brunt of the flames, along with the back of his right leg. The road to recovery seemed daunting, but with the help of the incredible medical team at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Francois began his journey toward healing.
Pictured above: The Boshoff family on their boat at Buffelspoort. From left Francois, David, Colleen-Anne, and Charllene
“My dad doesn’t show much emotion when it comes to this stuff. But he became very solemn, so we know he was concerned. My mom was in some shock and felt anxious. He went into the theatre literally within 2 hours of being at the hospital, so it happened very quickly.” Charllene tells us.
“I felt anxious because he doesn’t like doctors in general and I couldn’t be there to support him as I was already on the way back to the dam to pack up. I was in shock at everything that happened so quickly. But we knew he would be receiving the best possible treatment.” says mum Colleen-Anne.
However, the burden of medical expenses loomed large over their family. Without Francois having any medical aid, his family has to pay for his medical costs out of pocket. From intensive care to multiple surgical procedures, the expenses accumulated rapidly, stretching their resources thin.
Pictured above: Francois with mum Colleen-Anne in the ICU burn unit at Milpark Hospital on Easter Monday
To lighten the family’s financial strain and to help cover the costs of Francois’ medical expenses his sister Charllene (24) started a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy where they have already raised more than R68 000 of their R240 000 goal with the help of 41 incredible donors.
“These funds would truly help us to not feel overwhelmed with the finances of the incident. But rather focus on the healing, both emotionally and physically. As mentioned in the BackaBuddy campaign text, Francois is not on medical aid, so we are paying for his treatment out of pocket and this has really become an expensive incident. But we could not be more grateful to the medical team that helped him. They really were extremely professional and took the best possible care of him. Francois would not be back on his feet and getting ready to head off on his American adventure if it weren’t for the outstanding medical team. The funds really would be such a relief for the family. We are all doing what we can and giving every penny we make to these expenses and the donations would really just allow us a breath of fresh air in that we are able to move forward from the incident and not be overwhelmed with the bills constantly hanging over us each month.” says Charllene.
The outpouring of support from their community has been nothing short of remarkable. Friends, family, and even strangers have rallied around them, offering words of encouragement and generous contributions to aid in Francois’ recovery. Their kindness has been a ray of light during this trying time, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles.
Pictured above: The Boshoff family enjoying a day out on their boat
“Genuinely thank you. You have no idea how much this helps me and my family. Life has been tough for everyone lately, but its acts of kindness in moments of unprecedented times like this that really show there is good in the world. God really is good.” Francois tells us.
As Francois continues his recovery journey, each day brings new milestones and triumphs. His resilience and determination serve as a source of inspiration to them all, propelling him forward in his healing process. Despite the ongoing challenges, his spirits remain high, buoyed by the love and support that surround him.
“Things happen. We can’t live in fear or regret. We, as a family, and I’m sure many others out there, have had it rough lately. But you need to move forward and just do what you can.” says Francois.
Update: As of April 4th, Francois has made significant progress in his recovery journey. He has been moved out of intensive care and into a general ward, marking a positive step forward. Tomorrow, he will undergo another surgical procedure to assess his skin graft and further clean his burn wounds. Despite the ongoing challenges, Francois remains in good spirits and hopes to be discharged soon.
Pictured above: Francois’ first night at home after being in the hospital
“Francois was relieved to be out of the ICU. He is not a fan of hospitals, so he knew this was closer to him being able to go home. And then especially with his job in the USA lined up, he was worried he wouldn’t be healed in time. So, moving into the general ward was a step in the right direction.” explains Charllene.
Once again, they extend their heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported them on this journey. The kindness has made a world of difference, and they are forever grateful for the unwavering support.