Viven Naicker, a charismatic 37-year-old paraplegic who bought a Ferrari when doctors told him to go home and arrange palliative care in January, died on Tuesday night.
The Durban man had been in and out of hospital since July.
The business analyst, who owned several companies in the retail, financial and medical industries, beat stage 4 prostate cancer in 2015 and went on to write a book, titled #Unstoppable, about his will to live. It detailed his life achievements, which included starting his first business when he was a teenager.
Naicker, a former financial adviser, was one of the youngest principal franchisees in the country when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
He endured an agonising treatment regime — 66 theatre visits, a colostomy and urostomy, was confined to a wheelchair and then had to navigate a painful divorce. However, Naicker was just relieved that he beat cancer and was alive to tell the tale.
Last October, Naicker was informed that the cancer was back in full force and his right leg was amputated.
In January an emotional Naicker told the Sunday Times that while his story was tragic, he wanted to live out the rest of his days on his own terms.
“Palliative care? Nah, I am going to buy a Ferrari and live my best life,” he told doctors.
He told the Sunday Times he was not just going to “lay there waiting to die”.
“Growing up for many of us in our communities, a Ferrari was an impossible target. So I said if I am fighting an impossible battle, I am going to drive an impossible-to-achieve car. Let me enjoy what little time I have left.
“Being a former motorsport competitor, I got to enjoy the thrills of being on the edge, whether it’s on four or two wheels. After being stripped of everything that mattered to me, I am grateful that I can still enjoy the pleasure of driving so I bought the impossible for the impossible,” he said.
Comentarios