Graeme College player who lost his leg after a rugby tackle gets help from cycling initiative

When Simnikiwe Bosman attempted a tackle during a rugby derby against St Andrews in Makhanda, it ended up in a dislocated knee.

At first, after being stretchered off the field and attended to by paramedics, the dislocated joint popped back into position.

However, due to the sheer pain Bosman was in, he was taken to a local hospital in Gqeberha.

Matters were complicated when he was discharged from the hospital – Greenacres – on the same day with X-rays confirming no fractures to his knee.

It later emerged that there had in fact been significant damage to the main artery and this had been missed in the initial consultation.

It was on Monday 6 September that the family was apprised of the distressing news that Bosman’s leg would have to be amputated because there was damage to muscle tissue in his leg.

READ | Grade 10 rugby player's leg amputated after dislocating knee during a game

At this stage, the idea of a cycle from Cape Town to Makhanda had already been in the pipeline, organiser of Leopard Trek – a group initiative aimed at raising funds to support Graeme College students – Andrew Brouckaert tells Sport24. 

The only difference now was that Bosman’s untimely injury was the impetus needed to get the gears in motion. The group feels that injury "revealed that the school in such cases has a substantial need for financial resources to respond to such calamitous events".

"The original idea got bigger and priorities shifted because Sim is going to need support as he grows," Brouckaert said.

"Personally, I would like to raise R150 000 for the school for it to be distributed among students who may need the funds."

The odyssey began last week and the hope is to arrive in Makhanda on 4 March, just in time for Founders Day at the