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Quick-thinking teen saves dad
30/08/2007 23:20 - (SA)
Virginia Keppler, Beeld
Pretoria - The quick action of a 17-year-old Montana boy has possibly saved his father's life.
Pieter Erasmus, 44, was hit in the left lung when he surprised robbers at his home at about 22:50 on Wednesday night.
He's in a serious condition in the Montana Hospital.
His life was apparently saved when his son Raymond, 17, realised that he had to get the car out of the garage for his mother Leoné, 45, to rush his dad to hospital.
She was making sandwiches for Raymond and his sister Margeaux, 15, when the incident took place.
Lying on the lawn
"Pieter left to go and draw money. I heard him coming back and the gate closing. Shortly afterwards I heard three shots being fired," Leoné said.
She ran to the study and peered through the window.
"Pieter was lying on the lawn in the garden.
"He battled to shout: 'Leoné, call the police, I've been shot'."
She hit the panic button and ran outside while shouting to the children. Raymond woke up first and ran outside after phoning the police.
"I could see my father was in a lot of pain. I went to fetch my mother's key, pulled her car out of the garage and left it idling in the driveway.
"I don't know how my dad did it, but he got up and we managed to help him into the car.
"He said that he was nauseous and I told him it was OK, go ahead."
Leoné meanwhile rushed her husband to hospital.
Raymond said he couldn't find his father's key to lock the gate and the house.
"I told my sister to stay in the house while I stood guard at the gate."
Counsellor came to speak to them
He stood there the entire time, keeping the gate closed with his hands.
Their neighbour, Nico Maritz, came to help shortly afterwards.
"Oom Nico said he would guard the gate and that I should go and lock up my sister in the house."
Raymond said the police and Chubb security were at the house within minutes.
Leoné said the service at the hospital was excellent and they even got hold of a counsellor to come and speak to them.
She said the robbers didn't steal anything.
"I'm telling my story because I want to warn the community about what's going on here," she said.
Captain Tessa Jansen said the police were investigating.
- Beeld
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