Elderly man fights off robbers

2006-12-18 21:23

Johannesburg - An elderly couple were attacked by two men while watching cricket on television in their Kibler Park home on Monday morning, ER24 said in a statement.

Spokesperson Riana Beech said two men, armed with a knife and a hammer, were seen jumping over a wall to the couple's house at about 10.20.

"One of them then started attacking a 73-year-old man with a hammer, while the other held a knife to the throat of the man's wife," she said.

"The man says he just felt a blow on the back of his head... then an unfamiliar voice demanded money."

When the old man tried to prevent a second blow with his arm, his wrist was broken.

"He fell to the ground and the attacker continued hitting him on his legs with a hammer.

"When the old man realised his 71-year-old wife was being threatened with a knife, he grabbed the hammer from his attacker and started to fight back," she said.

Attackers fled without taking anything

"The two young men then decided to flee, without taking a thing from the house."

Beech said the couple called ER24 immediately.

"When paramedics arrived at the scene, the old man was sitting on his couch with a massive head injury and fractured wrist."

The man is being treated at the Milbarton hospital. His wife was treated for shock.

Beech could not give details of the couple, saying they wished to remain anonymous for fear of being victimised.

Sergeant Sanku Tsunke said an attempted robbery case was opened at the Mondeor police station.

- SAPA