Vinod Hindocha, 65, whose daughter was kidnapped and murdered in South Africa in 2010, had his right arm severed just below the shoulder as he was fixing a lift in his native Sweden, the UK-based Press Association reported.

According to Independent Online the accident happened last Tuesday.

He was flown to hospital where the limb was reattached after 13 hours of surgery. Doctors believe he could regain full use of it.

His brother Ashok, who joined members of Anni's family during the trial of her widower Shrien in Cape Town last year, said: "He told me he was in the lift as it went down and he could see his severed arm on the first floor as he went down to the ground floor. Life is not fair.

"He has movement in his elbow, which surgeons say is the most important thing, and his fingertips are getting warmer. He is a fighter."

Anni, an engineer, was killed on a luxury honeymoon in Cape Town with Bristol millionaire Shrien Dewani.

Dewani, 34, was last year cleared by the Western Cape High Court of any role in his wife's murder. The case was thrown out before he could give evidence.

Three men, Zola Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, and Xolile Mngeni, who were already serving jail terms for their role in the killing, claimed Dewani arranged the hijacking in which he would survive and his wife would be killed.

Judge Jeanette Traverso ruled their evidence was flawed.

Dewani has not commented publicly on the case since he was cleared, although he might be called to give evidence at his late wife's inquest, a date for which is yet to be set.

Sapa