A member of the Stargate family has suffered life-changing injuries after being struck in a DUI incident.
Stargate SG-1 recurring guest star Obi Ndefo lost both of his legs in the incident last month, after exiting a grocery store in southern California. The actor played the Jaffa rebel Rak’nor on the series, appearing in six episodes.
He was hit from behind by a swerving vehicle.
“I just started repeating, ‘I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive’ — just to keep myself calm,” Ndefo told Gene Kang of NBC Los Angeles.
After surviving the incident Ndefo has received two surgeries, with both legs amputated just above the knee.
Obi Ndefo first appeared on Stargate SG-1 in the fourth season episode “The Serpent’s Venom” (opposite Christopher Judge).
The actor was coming home from his Saturday evening yoga class, which he taught for special needs children. Recently he has also been working on Juice Bar, a multicultural television series he co-created and is writing.
His other television credits include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Dawson’s Creek.
Ndefo said that he harbors no ill will toward the driver of the vehicle (who was reportedly located and arrested the following day). “I wish they get whatever treatment, like anyone who’s in this situation, so they don’t do this to somebody else,” he said.
Meanwhile he is recovering at his mother’s home in California. Friends and family have set up a GoFundMe campaign, aiming to raise at least $200,000 to pay for his medical expenses, prosthetic legs, and to make his home wheelchair accessible.
As of publication, more than 1,000 contributors have helped to raise more than $140,000 in a little over a week.
“Obi sends everyone his love from the depths of his heart, and is exceedingly positive and optimistic about his determination to allow his body and soul to be a vehicle for good on the planet,” his family wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Meanwhile Ndefo continues his work in rehab, intending to never give up on what his goals in life. “I can do this,” he said, “and I want to keep being a contributor to the world.”
Watch the local news segment on Obi from NBC Los Angeles:
UPDATE (February 2020): Stargate Actor Obi Ndefo’s Road To Recovery
This really breaks my heart that someone’s careless behavior lead to a awesome guy, with such a warm spirit and caring heart, having to go through this ordeal. God bless him. I hope he can continue to look forward and do good works.
WOW the Advertisment was EXTREMELY fitting. It was a health commercial and the name of he doctor was Dr. Jaffe (which is like JAFFA)
You can’t make this stuff up.