A family outing to Blue Lagoon in Durban turned tragic for a Phoenix mother when her 7-year-old daughter, Pravishka Bhagwandeen, suffered a serious finger injury. Priya Bernard, 44, said she was enjoying a family fishing trip with her husband Pravin Bhagwandeen and their two children on Sunday, October 4, when the incident occurred. Bernard's daughter had asked to use the toilet and was accompanied by her 6-year-old brother, Pravinash.
Bernard said she couldn't enter the toilet with her daughter as she was carrying many items, so she sent her son along. Moments later, she heard her daughter scream. Rushing inside, Bernard found her daughter crying hysterically with blood running down her hand. Her daughter was holding her fingers and was inconsolable. Bernard didn't know what had happened and quickly told her husband that her daughter was bleeding and that they needed to see a doctor.
However, her daughter still needed to use the toilet, so Bernard returned with her. There, she overheard a woman who witnessed the incident telling others that what had happened was wrong and that they had hurt her daughter. The witness said one of the women had allegedly pushed past Bernard's daughter to enter the toilet, causing the door to slam onto her finger. Bernard demanded that the women take responsibility for what happened and take her daughter to the doctor.
One of the women agreed, but the situation changed when they approached the Blue Lagoon bridge. The women turned on Bernard, screaming and pointing fingers, saying they didn't want to help. They claimed it wasn't their fault that Bernard's daughter had put her finger in the door and refused to assist them further. Bernard was afraid and angry but chose not to argue, as she was alone with her injured daughter and didn't know the women.
Bernard decided to return to her husband and explain the situation. He suggested confronting the women, but Bernard advised against it, fearing for their safety. Instead, she rushed her daughter to the hospital, as she couldn't find a private doctor open at 4 pm on a Sunday. Her daughter was subsequently referred to Gandhi Hospital for an X-ray and further treatment.
Bernard's daughter has been affected by the incident and missed school on Monday due to her injury. Her middle finger on her right hand was injured, and her nail fell off, making it difficult for her to write. Bernard regrets not taking photographs or obtaining the women's details at the time. She was later contacted by one of the witnesses, who saw what happened and believed the woman's actions had caused the injury.
The witness, who owns a stall at Phoenix Plaza, recognized the women and hopes to identify them if she sees them again. Bernard wants the woman responsible to be held accountable and is seeking justice for her daughter. She hopes making the incident public will help identify the women and lead to witnesses coming forward. Bernard is still shaken by the incident and the behavior of the women involved.
Key points
- A Durban mother is seeking witnesses after her 7-year-old daughter suffered a serious finger injury at Blue Lagoon.
- The incident occurred when a toilet door was slammed shut on the child's hand.
- The mother is seeking justice and wants the woman responsible to be held accountable.
