‘Spiked drink’ puts new dad in coma
Corrie Van Niekerk sits alongside his wife Rene' and recalls the series of events that led to their son Travis (21) ending up in ICU fighting for his life after he alledegedly had his drink spiked while socializing with friends at Presley's night club in Boksburg. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 22/02/2012 Corrie Van Niekerk sits alongside his wife Rene' and recalls the series of events that led to their son Travis (21) ending up in ICU fighting for his life after he alledegedly had his drink spiked while socializing with friends at Presley's night club in Boksburg. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 22/02/2012
Celebratory drinks ahead of the birth of his son have left a Kempton Park man fighting for his life.
The drinks intended to calm his nerves have left Travis van Niekerk, 21, in a coma, lying in the ICU at a Kempton Park hospital for the past four days. It is believed his drink was spiked at a night club in Boksburg on Saturday night.
Van Niekerk and three friends had shared a fish-bowl cocktail, then ordered a round of drinks before heading to the dance floor, leaving their glasses unattended.
When they returned they finished off their drinks.
But a short while later Van Niekerk and one of his friends started complaining about not feeling well.
His friend started vomiting blood while Van Niekerk’s eyes rolled back and he started convulsing.
Van Niekerk drifted in and out of consciousness and struggled to breathe.
At the same time his girlfriend was in labour. Four hours later, she delivered their baby.
Van Niekerk’s mother, René, said she had just dropped his girlfriend at the hospital when she received a phone call informing her of what had happened to her son.
The two friends had been rushed to Arwyp Medical Centre where doctors found only traces of barbiturates, a sedative, and alcohol in their blood.
Because doctors cannot determine exactly which sedative Van Niekerk ingested, they have been unable to give him specific treatment and his body has been left to fight off the toxins on its own.
Van Niekerk’s friend has since recovered, after vomiting and sleeping for a day.
But according to Van Niekerk’s mother, his urine was green on Wednesday, indicating that poisons were still being flushed out of his system. He is still on a ventilator.
Van Niekerk’s family have opened an attempted murder case with the police, but with no solid evidence and no witnesses, it seems unlikely police will find the culprits.
Corrie van Niekerk said seeing his son convulse was “the most horrific experience of my life” and one he didn’t wish other parents to go through.
“We want to warn kids that drink spiking is very real.
“My child almost died because of it. We want people to be aware and to know never to consume drinks that haven’t been opened in front of them.
“And never let your drink out of your sight,” he warned.
The Van Niekerks are desperate to know exactly what substance was used to spike his drink.
“If we can just find out what they gave him, then he’d be able to get the treatment he needs,” René said.
Corrie said they suspect the friends could have been drugged with poisoned ice blocks.
In a month’s time, Travis’s hair follicles will be tested in an effort to determine what drugs he ingested. - The Star