Six-year-old motorbike rider fighting for life
THERE has been an outpour of support for six-year-old Durakai Smith who is fighting for his life following a serious motorbike accident on the weekend.
Following the accident on Saturday afternoon, Durakai was airlifted to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter where he remains in an induced coma.
While the Year 1 student is in a stable condition, the community has rallied around his muchloved, tight-knit family, raising almost $20,000 through a Gofundme page within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the St Johns Football Club and South Dubbo Tavern have also raised several thousand dollars to help financially support the Smiths through this difficult time.
The tragic news has attracted the attention of well-known NRL players including Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo Carr and Josh Walker, who have all encouraged their large social media followings to show their support for the Smith’s.
Messages of thoughts and prayers have flooded Facebook with people close to the family describing the young man as “loving”, “caring” and “cheeky”, while using the hashtag #staystrongdurakai.
Parents, Brinae and Glen, who own Darkeye Photography, are currently staying in Ronald Mcdonald House, while their two young daughters are being cared for by family members in a motel near the hospital.
All funds raised will go towards the family’s expenses while they are away from home, including meals, accommodation, transport and medical bills.
In a Facebook post on Monday morning, Mrs Smith urged people to keep her son “in your thoughts and prayers as we give him the time to rest and heal his little body.
“The utter determination he has in everyday life is showing itself right now as he holds on and fights hard,” the post read. Speaking to Dubbo Photo
News on behalf on the family earlier in the week, Mr Smith’s uncle, Kiama West, passed on his thanks.
“Thank you so much to everyone for all of their support, it has been overwhelming,” he said.
The family have also requested well-meaning friends stay up to date with Durakai’s progress via Brinae’s Facebook page, rather than contacting them directly at this time.
To contribute financially, search for ‘Supporting Durakai’ on the Gofundme website.