AN armed gang who attempted to hijack a local security expert in Meerensee on Saturday night, picked the wrong fight when their victim turned the tables on them and beat them into retreat without the loot.
David Pretorius (24) of Northern Region Protection Services (NRPS) and a Sea Rescue volunteer, was forced off the road in the early hours of Saturday morning, after returning from a crime patrol with the Meerensee CPF, but years of training and a previous similar experience, saved him from serious loss or injury.
David, sporting a cut lip and some tender front teeth, said he is on the mend and grateful for the timeous intervention of CPF member Christie Strydom, who came to his rescue in the nick of time.
‘We finished patrolling at around 1.15 am on Saturday morning with about 14 volunteers and seven vehicles.
‘It was a successful though relatively quiet evening and everybody went their separate ways.
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‘I stopped to fill up my Ford Figo at the Meerensee Shell garage and was on my way home turning into the main road from the LAC Centre, when I noticed a white Opel Corsa bakkie (NUF 49437) with dimmed lights tailing me.
‘Suddenly the driver put on the brights and rammed up from behind, pushing me off the road.
‘I was forced to stop to prevent a collision.’
David, who was hijacked in Port Edward some years ago, realised he was in serious trouble and made the first move.
As the driver was getting out from behind the wheel, David jumped out and sprinted to the vehicle.
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‘I hit him first through the open window and just kept on hitting him until he dropped his gun.
‘His passenger meanwhile also jumped out and hit me on the mouth.
‘I was a bit stunned, but retaliated with more blows.
‘Just then, the canopy opened and more men jumped out.’
Meanwhile, CPF member Christie Strydom, who was in the vicinity, saw the commotion and came to David’s rescue.
‘It was then that they started screaming ‘Let’s go! Let’s go! before speeding off.’
David’s father and NRPS partner, Corrie Pretorius, says his son is a hero.
‘I am very proud of David and grateful and relieved that he is unharmed.
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