ISKANDAR PUTERI: National kayak athlete Siti Nurul Masyitah Elias underwent two simultaneous six-hour surgeries yesterday, one on her right shoulder and another on her pelvic bone, following a severe accident over the weekend.
The Ibrahim Sultan Polytechnic (PIS) mechanical engineering student sustained injuries when an alleged drunken driver crashed into the rear of her motorcycle on the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) Highway. The incident occurred at KM3.5 on Saturday.
Masyitah or Uda as she is affectionately known, is currently recuperating at Columbia Asia Hospital.
Her mother, Saloma Ramli, 58, shared that Masyitah regained consciousness after being initially admitted to Sultanah Aminah Hospital in an unconscious state.
"Now she remembers the accident and can recount what happened.
"It shattered me when she described feeling as if her skin were on fire while being dragged approximately 100 meters by the car that collided with the rear of her motorcycle," she said.
Masyitah was en route from Pontian to the kayak training centre in Bakar Batu when the accident happened around 4.30pm.
Saloma said that her daughter might require further surgeries on her shoulder, hip, and waist.
Additionally, Masyitah needs corrective surgeries, including plastic surgery, but the operation date is pending.
Due to her injuries sustained during the accident, Masyitah requires plastic surgery as skin grafting is not feasible.
Saloma described her daughter, the fifth of eight siblings, as brave and resilient, highlighting her frequent return home to Parit Rambai, Pontian, to attend to her family's needs.
"I broke my back in an accident in mid-April," she said.
Meanwhile, State Youth, Sports, Entrepreneurship, and Cooperative Development Committee chairman, Mohd Hairi Mad Shah who visited Masyitah at the hospital today, said the state sports council would look into helping the athlete with her medical bills.