Photo: khomanisan

File photo.

TWELVE San children from the N/a’an ku se Clever Cubs School visited their hero, Cgunta Khao//khao, in hospital yesterday.

The group was accompanied by Marlice van Vuuren of the N/a’an ku se Foundation, who read out good wishes from all over the world that had been emailed to the foundation.

She translated the messages from English into Khao//khao’s mother tongue.

Khao//khao sustained sustained severe burns when he and four other San men saved the life of a tourist caught in a veld fire near Tsumkwe last month.

Khao//khao’s heroic deed has inspired many people and he has had several visits in hospital.

“I have met so many people. Some people I did not know before are visiting me and helping me,” said Khao//khao.

The five San men were out in the bush with tourist Jane Bean on August 28 to show her their traditional way of living when a veld fire was blown into their direction by a strong wind.

The men formed a protective circle around Bean to protect her from the flames and by doing this three of them sacrificed their own lives.

One of the men, Bertus Khao//khao, was dressed in Western clothing and he sustained less serious burns. Bean escaped unhurt but the men dressed in traditional attire sustained serious burns.

The four men were taken to the Grootfontein State Hospital where Fanie N!ani, N!ynne Oxa and N//ymi /Ukxa died. Khao//khao was referred to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Windhoek.

Two weeks after the incident the media reported about Khao//khao’s heroic deed and the N/a’an ku se Foundation got involved. People from all over Namibia and the world opened their hearts and not only donated money but also sent cards and email.

The money is being used to pay his medical bills although Dr Susan Kruger, the plastic surgeon, did not charge him for her services.