BRIAN Flanagan, the man who was shot by an armed robber while on holiday at Sodwana Bay, is still in ICU in Empangeni but has started showing signs of recovery.
Two weeks after the shooting and, although Brian’s breathing is still ventilator-assisted, his condition is stable and he is gaining strength by the day.
‘He is awake and can understand us so everything is moving in the right direction,’ said Andrew Flanagan, Brian’s son, who, along with his mother June, has remained in Empangeni.
It is still too early to discuss his discharge from hospital but the family is happy with the good level of medical treatment Brian has received.
‘[We] have had excellent service at the [Life Empangeni] Garden Clinic and the doctors are doing a great job,’ said Andrew.
The Flanagans are also grateful to Empangeni community members who have helped the family during this difficult time.
Mbazwana SAPS confirmed on Thursday that the suspect remains at large and there are no new leads. It appears the suspect is a sole operator who commits crimes and simply vanishes.
He was reported to have been wearing dark green-khaki trousers and a dark coloured long-sleeved T-shirt at the time of the robbery.
The suspect doesn’t appear to have a home or transport and all evidence points to his carrying out this, and other crimes he is suspected to have committed, alone.
Police officers urge community members to work with them should they know the suspect’s identity or whereabouts.
Brian, June and their son Andrew were nearing the end of their KZN holiday when Brian was shot at close range during an armed robbery while returning from a day trip to Lake Sibaya.
They were robbed of R4 000 and the suspect fled the scene after shooting Brian in the back. The bullet missed all vital organs but appropriate medical treatment was administered only 12 hours after the shooting.
Brian Flanagan is prominent in the Western Cape’s commercial fishing industry, specialising in south and west coast rock lobster, Patagonian toothfish and hake for export.
