Asylum seeker who lost fingers crossing border ‘very confident’ after first refugee hearing

WINNIPEG — Seidu Mohammed crossed the border at Emerson three months ago with dreams of becoming a soccer coach in Winnipeg. Mohammed is from Ghana, and on Thursday afternoon he had his refugee hearing.

“I don’t have much to say, I am waiting for a decision,” Mohammed said as he left the hearing that was closed to the public.

“I am very confident I can make it.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I am very confident I can make it."

RELATED: Refugees brave freezing cold, walk to Canada to escape Donald Trump’s USA

Mohammed’s lawyer told Global News that his asylum application won’t be completed for another six weeks as the review board needs to consider all evidence before making the decision.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Mohammed crossed the border near Emerson, Manitoba with another man from Ghana, Razak Iyal, on Christmas Eve. Both Mohammed and Iyal endured freezing temperatures and lost all of their fingers to frostbite.

WATCH: Ghanian community comes together to help asylum seekers who lost fingers to frost bite

1:39 Ghanaian community in Winnipeg comes together to help frostbitten refugees

READ MORE: Ghanaian community in Winnipeg comes together to help frostbitten refugees

They said if it wasn’t for a Canadian truck driver who stopped for them and called 9-1-1, they would have died.

Mohammed was the first of the two men to have his hearing as he applied for refugee status Thursday afternoon.