Farmer lucky to be alive

2005-06-07 10:42

Katrien Smit

Johannesburg - A protea farmer from Sterkfontein on the West Rand who was first shot in a farm attack was then involved in a head-on collision on his way to hospital.

Peter Benggelli, 64, and his family surprised a gang of armed robbers at their home early on Sunday morning.

Lilian Benggelli, 26, a veterinary nurse, arrived on their farm about 00:30 on Sunday.

She noticed that the first gate to their farm was not locked. She phoned her parents to find out if they were okay, and when they assured her everything was in order, she drove on.

She found the second gate also half-way open and when she arrived home, inspected the premises with her father to check for intruders.

Lillian said: "When we opened the front door, we surprised five or six men standing there.

"I don't think they saw my dad, but they immediately opened fire, probably because they got a fright."

Benggelli was wounded in his left leg above the ankle, his right shoulder and stomach.

Lillian said: "My father was lying on the ground. My mother, Annemarie, 52, started screaming inside the house.

"The next moment they pulled me into the house with a gun against my head."

The attackers dragged her through the house in search of her mother.

When I saw blood on the kitchen floor, I worried that they had also wounded my mom.

"They wanted to know where the safe was located, but we don't have one. They wanted the keys to the car and jewellery and valuable stuff before they left in a great hurry."

Collision

The family called local paramedics and an ambulance but decided to start out for the hospital on their own in the meantime.

"The paramedics met us halfway between the farm and the hospital, but told us to continue and that they would follow us.

"Meanwhile, the attackers had overturned the stolen car on a curve not far from the farm and the ambulance left for the scene."

Road works on the way to hospital caused the Benggellis to collide head-on with a bakkie.

Benggelli said: "I was lying on the back seat and heard a loud crash."

He did not suffer any further injuries but his wife got a bruised eye.

One of the bakkie's passengers was flung partly through the windscreen and was treated on site.

The family eventually arrived at the Krugersdorp hospital, where Benggelli was admitted to the intensive care unit.

One of the suspects was injured when the stolen car overturned. He was arrested.

Another suspect was arrested on Sunday evening.

- Die Burger