Up Close … with Joseph Chetty, sole survivor of a fatal accident |22 August 2017
‘I have come to realise how fragile life is and how fast it can end’
Today marks exactly 13 months since three young men just emerging from adolescent, full of life and dreams, were
involved in a fatal accident on the Providence highway in which two of them lost their lives.
The sole survivor, Joseph Chetty, who was seriously injured, talks about how he is coping with his life, the loss of his two friends, his studies as well as the after-effects of the accident.
The fatal accident that cost him his friends and changed his life
It is with great regret and unshed tears welling up in his eyes that Joseph still remembers that ill-fated evening of July 22 last year when the car he was in with his two friends was involved in a fatal accident on the Providence highway.
It was around 10.45pm that evening that the car the three young people -- Michael Dongra aged 19 years (who was driving), Sebastien Morel also 19 years and Joseph himself aged 20 -- were travelling in hit a concrete structure opposite the UCPS before ending up in the marsh.
Michael and Sebastien were pronounced dead on arrival at the Seychelles Hospital while Joseph was in a coma, severely injured with a blow to the head, injuries to the forehead, face and mouth, a broken tooth and a fractured leg. He spent several weeks in hospital.
Joseph has never remembered what really happened to cause the accident. The only thing he recalls was hanging out early that evening with his two friends at the former crèche at Pointe Au Sel listening to music in the car before later in the evening deciding to go downtown that day being a Friday evening.
Joseph says he does not have any recollection whatsoever of what happened on their drive to town on the highway but he woke up from a coma days later in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Getting better after leaving hospital took a long time and many people thought he would not make it or if he did he would be disabled and miss an eye due to his injuries.
In fact a lot of gossip went around regarding the accident while Joseph struggled to get better unsuspecting of the fate that had befallen his two friends on that fatal evening.
After he got better Joseph had a lot of catching up to do in his studies as he had missed lessons, assessments and important exams. So he repeated a whole school year.
“I had to do a lot of catching up but I never despaired as I had put all my trust in God. I know He is the only one who can guide me and help me decide on the right path. Without His guidance I was helpless. My life has changed completely and I find it very difficult to cope with my studies and do my lessons. It is really tough but I take things slowly.”
Early school years
Joseph Chetty started school at a small crèche at Pointe Au Sel, a locality of the Anse Royale district, before starting primary and later secondary school at Anse Royale.
As a child Joseph always had an admiration for electrical and electronic appliances and always wanted to explore all the different coloured and intertwined wires joined together which made them function accordingly. It was not surprising though that he chose to pursue related courses at the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT).
“The world revolves around electronic and electrical appliances and gadgets and these are everywhere around you so I said why not learn more and deepen my knowledge in the process that makes them work,” says Joseph.
But he recalls that he was not too good at subjects such as mathematics so he took extra lessons with some other colleagues.
“I was really happy that at the end of the day my hard work paid off and my IGCSE exam results allowed me to enroll on the course I wanted,” Joseph recalls.
But Joseph’s studies were to be put on hold for six months, time during which he recuperated from the accident.
Changes in his life
Joseph says he prays a lot to be able to get over the pain of losing his friends as well as move on with his life.
“It is really hard and painful when I realise I will never see my friends again, when I think of the times we spent together. It is difficult to replace close friends but only God knows the time it will take to heal this pain I feel inside at the thought of them,” Joseph says sadly.
“My life has changed and I miss them a lot. I don’t even want to go out much. I prefer to stay at home and devote my strength and energy to my studies as I am determined to pass my exams and make it to the 3rd year,” Joseph says.
“I have come to realise through the accident how fragile life is and how fast it can end, how in a very short time when you are least expecting it the most precious thing can be snatched from you forever. As for me I consider myself so very lucky to be still alive after the painful ordeal I have been through and the scars I still carry,” Joseph says pensively.
“I feel really sad when I think of my friends, the bright future that was awaiting them as they were both very bright students full of dreams and plans, the pain their families have to bear especially when one considers the fact that both of them was their parents’ only child. A big empty hole has been created in all our lives which will never close,” Joseph muses sadly.
On the first anniversary of his friends’ death Joseph says he accompanied their parents to their graves.
“It was really a sad and solemn moment and there are no words to describe how I felt inside,” says Joseph.
Looking to the future
Joseph says going back to school was not easy for him as some students tended to pity him and make him self-conscious of the scars left from his injuries but in general he gets a lot of support from schoolmates and teachers who understand what he has been through and the difficulties he faces to cope.
“I have made some new friends at school and I am grateful for their support and encouragement but I must say it is difficult for me and I am not always able take part in all school activities but I am trying to adapt as much as I can,” Joseph says.
“I try my best to cope with my life and my studies and I have gone on work attachment and in general all went well,” Joseph says.
Joseph, who has been an altar boy together with his friends, continue to serve mass every Sunday at the Pointe Au Sel church and try to live his life normally.
During the weekend and holidays Joseph says he stays at home watching television or visiting people who know him and his family well so he can get some spiritual advice and some counselling.
“They give me some spiritual guidance which I need to boost my confidence and help me with my life,” Joseph says.
Joseph, who still has metal support in one leg, is not able to do any strenuous exercise, therefore no sporting activities.
Other than that he still has difficulty with his vision due to eye injuries.
“Even though I wear glasses, I often have problems to adjust my vision. Often it is blurry and even though I don’t have headaches, I cannot read for long periods. I try but often I have to struggle to get a clear vision. I find it difficult to see things as clearly as I would like. It is really a big challenge to see perfectly but I am grateful that I did not lose my sight and I can at least see even though not as clear as I would like. But I trust in God that things will gradually continue to improve for me,” he says.
Joseph says since he has been discharged from hospital he has had no follow up and sometimes he feels the need for medical advice and guidance.
“I really feel bad at times and I long for some medical advice but I try to pull myself together, take it upon myself to be brave and strong to continue with my life. It is really not easy to explain the feeling to anyone who has not been through what I have,” he says.
His dream, he says, is to complete his studies successfully, get a decent job and earn enough money so he can make a saving.
“I will need money if I want to repair the remaining scars left by the accident,” Joseph says.
Joseph admits that even though he is getting use to the scar on his forehead, often it raises people’s curiosity and he does not like it when he has to explain how he got it. So he is determined to try and have it improved as well as seek to replace the missing tooth.
“But for the time being I am just thankful I am alive,” he says.
Looking back at all he has been through, Joseph has this to say: “Accidents happen any time and faster than one can expect so it is always good to always be very cautious, to pray and be thankful to God for life as it is so precious but so fragile.”