Family waits for clarity as father remains critical and young daughter recovers
Nearly two weeks after a collision in Salfin, Boksburg, the family of a young mother who died along with her toddler say they remain in the dark about how the crash occurred. The father is in a critical condition in hospital while the couple’s four-year-old daughter is recovering from multiple injuries.
On 30 August, Natalia Cook, 25, and her 18-month-old son, Matthew, died at the scene. According to relatives, the family were turning into their residential complex when another vehicle allegedly struck their car.
The father, Marcel, 27, sustained severe brain injuries and remains in critical care at Alberton Hospital. Their daughter, Liora, four, suffered broken bones and woke recently from an induced coma, relatives said. The family reported that they only learned of the crash the day after it happened when a friend passing the scene alerted them.
- Fatalities: Natalia Cook (25) and her 18-month-old son, Matthew.
- Critical: Marcel, 27, with severe brain injuries at Alberton Hospital.
- Injuries: Liora, 4, with broken bones and recovering in hospital; expected to stay at least two more weeks.
Relatives described a fragile mixture of hope and heartbreak as Liora recovers. They said the little girl repeatedly asks for her mother but has not been told that her mother died.
"Liora is finally awake but is constantly asking for her mum. We were told not to tell her as yet. Marcel is critical and we are waiting on doctors to tell us what next," said Katheeja Chetty, the sister-in-law.
Chetty told reporters that Liora remains in considerable pain and is struggling to come to terms with the trauma. She added the girl is expected to remain in hospital for at least another two weeks before the family and clinicians assess the next steps in her recovery.
The family said visiting Marcel has been restricted because of the severity of his injuries and they must wait for medical updates. Alongside their concern for the injured children and husband, relatives expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of information about the circumstances of the crash.
Questions for investigators and the community
The family’s account raises several issues residents and local authorities may want addressed:
- Whether a formal police investigation has been opened and at which station.
- Whether witnesses or dashcam footage from nearby homes or passing motorists have been sought.
- Whether steps are being taken to improve safety at the entrance to the residential complex.
At present, the family says they are still waiting for official answers about how the other vehicle came to strike them. They have also highlighted the trauma of learning about the crash only after a passer-by alerted them, rather than being contacted directly by authorities.
For neighbours and others in Boksburg, the collision has been a stark reminder of how quickly lives can be changed. Those who knew Natalia described family Sundays and routine lunches now shattered by tragedy.
Local residents and commuters who use the roads around Salfin may reasonably expect an update from police on any arrests, charges or findings from the crash investigation, and from the medical team caring for Marcel and Liora on their prognosis and planned rehabilitation.
The family has asked for privacy while they manage hospital visits and the urgent practical arrangements that follow such a tragedy. They also want clear information from authorities about the investigation so they can understand what happened to Natalia and little Matthew.
As the community waits for official word, relatives continue to visit Liora in hospital and monitor Marcel’s condition, hoping for recovery and for the answers that can help them begin to rebuild.
