Armed robbery survivor living to tell the tale, but life is hard

An armed robbery survivor recalls being shot nine times and living to tell the tale more than three decades later.

Dirk Greyvensteyn was travelling home from a business prize giving when he was robbed and shot nine times on 3 September, 1991.

Following the shooting, Greyvensteyn’s life fell apart. He was left unemployed and certified disabled.

“I’m in dire straits. I’m struggling to cope financially, physically and spiritually,” he said, adding he needed permanent physiological disability aid and physical therapy daily.

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“But I just don’t have the funds and I don’t know where to get help,” he said.

The 72-year-old Hillcrest resident’s nightmare started when he survived an armed robbery about five kilometres from Carnival City.

“I was approximately five kilometres from home when I stopped at the traffic light and noticed there was a BMW in front of me. I didn’t take any notice, as I just wanted to get home,” he recalled.

Greyvensteyn thought he had managed to pass the BMW when suddenly the suspects opened fire on him.

“I heard gunshots and realised they were firing at me while driving next to me. I ducked my head and my car stalled.”

One of the suspects appeared next to him and demanded cash before grabbing his wristwatch and they sped off.

“I struggled to get out of my car because they shot me in my left leg. I crawled on the road for 1.4km, praying for help. I saw the lights of the Sunward Park Hospital and knew I had to stay conscious to get there before I bled to death,” he recalled.

Greyvensteyn was shot with nine 9mm parabellum bullets.

Greyvensteyn spent seven months in the intensive care unit and underwent several operations.

“I have permanently lost all nerve sensation in my right hand, feet and legs,” he said.

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“After being discharged from the hospital, I spent the next few years in a wheelchair. The physio and occupational therapists taught me to walk, talk, read, write and eat again because my right hand was left permanently impaired. I developed neuropathy due to the damage to my nerves, hands and feet,” he said.

Greyvensteyn said it went from bad to worse after he was placed on early retirement at the age of 41.

“My medical aid is depleted and I can’t afford to keep it up,” he said.

Greyvensteyn said he hasn’t been able to get a job due to the damage to his hand and chronic back pain.

“All this put a lot of stress on me and my family,” he said.