Man dies after tourist robbery

2008-03-06 11:43

Johannesburg - One man running from authorities died and three others were arrested after robbing German tourists at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the Western Cape, police said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Captain Randal Stoffels said the men approached two German tourists and robbed them of their backpack which contained a digital camera, cellphone and car keys on Wednesday around 13:45 while they were hiking on Table Mountain.

The tourists were not injured.

"The four suspects fled and hid in the bushes. A search was launched by security officials and park rangers."

It believed they were part of a group of men that had been robbing visitors to the park.

Stoffels said the men were spotted in the thick bushes scrambled across rocky terrain.

"They were brought back to the garden where were paramedics examined them. One of them died," he said.

ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks said the alleged robber was believed to have died from dehydration.

"When paramedics arrived on the scene they found police trying to save the life of one of the suspects, emergency personal tried their utmost but the unidentified young man was declared dead on the scene.

"Paramedics believe the men had no food or water ... this may have been one of the medical reasons why the one suspect had fallen over and died."

Banks said the other three men were treated for severe lacerations to the body and dehydration before being taken to hospital to receive treatment.

They were discharged later on Wednesday and were now in police custody - they would appear in court soon, said Stoffels.

- SAPA