Stabbed man saved by kind motorists
SHARONLEA – Cyclist mugged, stabbed and left to bleed to death in bushes on President Fouché Drive.
A cyclist from Fontainebleau was on his way to work in Kya Sand on 2 October, when he was brutally attacked on President Fouché Drive just after 6am.
Jaco Koekemoer (32) regularly takes the 15km stretch to work on his bicycle and it’s the first time he’s fallen victim to crime on his route.
“As I was approaching the intersection at Malibongwe Drive, a man jumped in front of me,” said a clearly shaken Koekemoer. “Two men came from behind and pulled me off my bicycle by jerking on my backpack.”
The men proceeded to pull Koekemoer into nearby bushes and attempted to stab him repeatedly with a steak knife. “Luckily the knife broke with the second stab and they ran away with my backpack” he continues. His backpack containing a wallet with R20 and a box of cigarettes, and his bicycle was now gone.
Koememoer made his way back to the road, not realising the blade of the knife was still protruding from his wounded chest.
“I tried to wave down cars for help,” Koememoer stated further, “a number of cars drove past, but for quite some time, no one stopped.”
At this point, Roy Fourie and his wife, Marlise, were also making their way to Olivedale Hospital, where Fourie was booked in for a back operation that same morning.
“We saw the man [Koekemoer] and it looked like something was terribly wrong,” said Fourie. “We saw he was bleeding when we called him over. We told him to get in the car so he can go to hospital with us. He was reluctant because he was bleeding everywhere, but we felt compelled to help him. We felt very sorry for him.”
After arriving at Olivedale Hospital, it was assessed that Koekemoer had suffered severe pneumothorax (pierced, collapsed lung) and was transferred to Helen Joseph Hosptal via ambulance.
“We are just so grateful that they [Roy and Marlise Fourie] stopped and helped him,” said Koekemoer’s mother, Becky. “He could have bled to death.”
“I’m grateful to still be alive,” concluded Koekemoer.
A case has been opened with Honeydew Police Sation and will be investigated. Comment from spokespeople is expected to follow.
This is a constant issue of violent crime on President Fouché between Malibongwe and Jacaranda Ave. The perpetrators are getting more brazen in the attacks and frequency is increasing rapidly. A shop owner shot and killed, numerous reports of people being robbed as people are walking on the stretch of road by the open land (Close to the Library). The police seems don’t seem to be able rid the area of these thugs, or take meaningful action.