‘Adaptability is an art': Kerishnie Naiker reflects on recovery after life-shifting fall
Despite the severity of her injuries, Naiker has maintained a 'solution-driven' approach to recovery rather than dwelling on the negligence that caused her fall.
Beyond her personal recovery, the health activist has used her platform to advocate for greater situational awareness when taking photographs.
Former Miss South Africa and health activist Kerishnie Naiker has marked a significant milestone in her recovery journey, sharing footage of herself leaving a rehabilitation facility in a wheelchair exactly one year after her incident.
'Exactly a year later to the day, I began another major chapter while physio and recovery continue. Adaptability is an art,' Naiker wrote in her reflective Instagram post this week.
Naiker's life took an unexpected turn in May 2024 during what should have been a routine visit to Cape Point's iconic lighthouse. A tourist focused on capturing the perfect photograph backed into Naiker while attempting to frame her shot.
'While on stairs from the lighthouse at Cape Point, she walked backwards into me, tripping me down two steps. She tried to get the lighthouse in focus and took one step too far,' Naiker explained in her original post following the incident.
The fall resulted in serious injuries that left the former beauty queen unable to walk independently, though she has consistently expressed gratitude that the situation wasn't worse. 'I'm thankful that I did not injure my head and remained compos mentis to get Netcare911 to favourably intervene,' she noted at the time.
What stands out in Naiker's recovery narrative is her determined focus on healing rather than dwelling on the circumstances of her incident. 'The focus has not once been on the negligent, selfie-addicted tourist, rather being solution-driven and healing,' she emphasised in her recent update.
This forward-looking perspective has been characteristic of Naiker's approach throughout her medical journey, which has included extensive rehabilitation at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital.
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A post shared by Kerishnie Naiker (@kerishnie_naiker)
Beyond her personal healing journey, Naiker has leveraged her platform to advocate for greater awareness and responsibility when taking photographs in public spaces.
In her original post following the incident, she outlined four key principles she believes could prevent similar incidents:
'I feel it imperative to use this platform to reaffirm that we do not take photos at the peril of others or ourselves, are observant, cognisant of our surroundings and situationally aware, savour every moment and take it all in without having to witness it all through a lens, and are mindful, kind and not oblivious of the well-being of others.'
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