Change of fortune for bomb blast victim

By Sarah Schwager
CRANBOURNE locals have banded together to help out a young Nepalese man whose hands were blown off in a stray bomb explosion mid last year.
Surendra Khatri came to Australia after good Samaritans Dennis Dowling and Jane McDonell flew to Nepal in November to find him.
The Balnarring couple had heard of his situation in a Nepali newspaper article and about the District Administration Office’s refusal to give him the status of conflict victim.
In June last year, the then 20-year-old father and husband of a 10-month-old daughter lost both hands when a booby-trap bomb discarded by the Maoists exploded in front of him.
Surendra also supported his mother, two younger sisters and younger brother on their farm.
Surendra received no compensation for his injuries and, although visited by a number of organisations, received no other assistance except for a 5000 rupees ($A92) payment by the Red Cross.
His hospital bills alone were 70,000 rupees ($A1296) all of this borrowed from neighbours, friends and relatives which still remains a debt for his family.
As well as losing both his hands, Surendra sustained damage to his face, right eye and ear and received multiple lacerations to his legs.
When Cranbourne locals heard of his plight they worked busily to help him out.
Last week, Alan Stocks, owner of Kelly’s Hotel in Cranbourne, donated the money for a new bike for Surendra.
He had heard about the Nepalese man’s situation through Cranbourne Secondary College teacher Jan McAleese.
“It was the least I could do,” he said.
“We get good business out of this town and I expect to put some back.
“He couldn’t believe his luck after having so much bad luck.
“Hopefully, he will finish up living the best of life. He is already a young father,” Mr Stocks said.
Mr Stocks then enlisted the help of Cranbourne Cycles’ Rowan Cook to modify the bike and make it rideable for someone with only prosthetic hands.
The bicycle brakes by pedalling backwards.
Since arriving in Australia, Surendra has seen an eye specialist, ear, nose and throat specialist and a prosthesis specialist free of charge.
The ‘hook’ style prostheses have been prepared and fitted and Surendra is now practising using them.
Mr Dowling and Ms McDonell are now working on fundraising projects to pay back medical debts in Nepal, to provide funds for ongoing maintenance costs and to set him up in a new business back in Nepal so that he and his family can support themselves in a few years time.
Donations can be made by calling 5983 1729.