What began as a routine trip to the shopping centre on a Friday afternoon turned into a terrifying ordeal for an elderly Estcourt couple.
WATCH THIS: [VIDEO] Couple left traumatised after attack in parking lot
Ramdeen (64) and Premilla (62) Ramcharan are still visibly distressed as they sit at their kitchen table a week later and relive the details of the attempted bag snatching in a shopping centre parking area that has left them in emotional and physical pain.
Mr Ramcharan explains that, “We went to a local supermarket to purchase some of their specials just after 6pm. While I was loading the groceries into the boot of my car, I heard a scream,” he said.
The scream came from his wife, who had been accosted by a stranger.
“I felt my bag being pulled, so I screamed ‘Ram!’ and fell onto the floor,” explained a soft-spoken Mrs Ramcharan, who still flinches when moving due to injuries she sustained to the left side of her head, arms and legs. The stranger yanked on Mrs Ramcharan’s bag, which was slung over her shoulder. In the process, she took a hard fall, landing on the bag, which the man could not grab and run away with.
Within seconds, Mr Ramcharan reacted. “I pulled out an energy drink bottle from the shopping bags and struck the man, who ran and disappeared,” he explained.
Rattled and shaking with fear, the couple approached management of the supermarket for assistance after they were told that no police patrol vehicles were available to assist. Mr Ramcharan was disappointed by the reaction from management.
“The manager was not in, so I spoke to the second-in-charge. She did not offer any first aid, help or call the ambulance. She just stared at me blankly,” he explained.
Concerned for his wife’s well-being, Mr Ramcharan bundled her into his car and travelled to Hilton Life Hospital, where doctors diagnosed one of her injuries as ‘inferior myocardial infarction’. After spending half the night in hospital, she was discharged. The family returned home in a state of shock.
“I feel so bad. We don’t know what to do. Someone could have been killed or badly hurt. This was a vicious attack,” said Mr Ramcharan.
He was hopeful that when the manager of the supermarket contacted him six days later, he would get empathy.
“The manager was apologetic, but it was just a sad story. There are violent attacks on women in the parking area, but there is nothing they could do. I am not happy and the supermarket should come to the party. I should be compensated for the hospital bills and travelling,” said an adamant Mr Ramcharan.
While the couple waits for a positive outcome to this story, they warn other residents to be extra vigilant.
“I want to publicise this in the newspaper so that no one else falls into this trap. Pensioners are easy targets and as we approach December, criminals are everywhere. We are still scared to walk into the supermarket, remembering that incident,” concluded Mr Ramcharan.
Management from the supermarket concerned has stressed that the security for the parking lot is the responsibility of the landlords, however, they are willing to provide trauma counselling to the victims as a courtesy.
SEE THIS: BLOG: Suffering from trauma?
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
