GO KART HORROR: 15-Year-Old Girl Paralysed And Scalped In Track Nightmare

A 15-year girl has been left paralysed after a horrific accident at a go-kart track when her long hair became tangled up with the engine.

Picture shows the hair that became tangled in the go-kart during a race in Durban, South Africa, undated. Kristen 15, has spent a week in ICU with spinal bruising, spinal cord damage and a torn aorta after the accident on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Vernon Govender/Newsflash)

Kristen Govender – from Durban, South Africa – has been driving on a kart track when her head was pulled back into the engine after getting caught on the drive shaft.

Local media reported she suffered spinal cord damage and bruising and a torn aorta as her scalp was torn off in the shocking incident.

Gruesome pictures show her long, dark hair wrapped around the engine just a few inches from the driver’s seat.

Her father, Vernon Govender, told how his daughter had been at the Action Karting centre in Durban’s Gateway Mall on 28th December when she was suddenly catapulted back into the engine.

He said that Kristen had been wearing a crash helmet and her hair had been tied into a ponytail.

He told local media: “The doctors said they don’t want to rush her to the surgery because she is young.

Picture shows the hair that became tangled in the go-kart during a race in Durban, South Africa, undated. Kristen 15, has spent a week in ICU with spinal bruising, spinal cord damage and a torn aorta after the accident on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Vernon Govender/Newsflash)

“They are taking measures to see how her body is reacting to the medication.

“She has no mobility from her waist down, she can’t move or has any feeling in her legs.

“She has a blood clot in her spinal column as well and, according to doctors, it’s too risky to operate.

“We just have to give her some time, with the medication and some sort of therapy we remain optimistic.

“My focus is for her to get better, walk out of the hospital and go back to school.

“There are a lot of answers I need but I will deal with things regarding the incident after my daughter is home with us.”

He added: “She is going to Grade 10; she is an A student having got all at the end of the year and she was really looking forward to entering the new year in school.”

A spokesman for the shopping centre said that because of the investigation and out of respect for the family, they would not comment.

Picture shows the blood an the go-kart after the accident in Durban, South Africa, undated. Kristen 15, has spent a week in ICU with spinal bruising, spinal cord damage and a torn aorta after the accident on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Vernon Govender/Newsflash)

But the dad said he had received just one phone call from the go-kart track to find out how his daughter is.

He said: “That was the day after the incident, in fact I had called the mall management and they said they were not even aware of the incident and he accused them of ‘complete negligence.’

“ It’s really scary that they run the establishment and they don’t even know what’s going on.

“There’s been no further calls from the go-karting place or the mall and it’s been six days since the incident.”

He added: “There was just an indemnity form signed, when I asked my daughter about the safety protocols she said they were just told to put on a helmet and drive.

“They didn’t give them any videos to watch or any instructions on how to operate the kart. This is a piece of machinery and you need to have safety instructions.

“On the day of the incident during the ride, my daughter said that a piece of the vehicle had come out when she went into the tunnel.

“She said she asked an employee on the track about the piece and he just pulled the plastic piece off and told her to carry on.

“She asked him if he was sure it was all right to continue and he told her it was, he said just get on and drive.

“The establishment followed no safety precautions and offered no first aid whatsoever.

Picture shows the blood an the go-kart after the accident in Durban, South Africa, undated. Kristen 15, has spent a week in ICU with spinal bruising, spinal cord damage and a torn aorta after the accident on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Vernon Govender/Newsflash)

“My 13-year-old son who was with them ran to the offices of the management and they closed the offices and disappeared from the scene.”