Pictures of a cyclist with a knife stuck in his skull have gone viral on
social media.
The cyclist – so far only identified as Shaun, a waiter from Somerset
West in the Western Cape – was on his way to work on Monday afternoon when he
was attacked and stabbed about 1,5km from his workplace.
After the attack he got back on his bike – with the knife still stuck in
his skull – and rode to the Brendon Venter doctors’ rooms in nearby Strand.
A receptionist at the doctors’ rooms who wants to remain anonymous
confirmed the incident to YOU. She said the cyclist has since been admitted to
Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town where emergency surgery was to be performed.
It’s the second attack on a cyclist in less than a week on the same 3km
stretch of road between Gordon’s Bay and Strand.
Former world champion cyclist Wimpie van der Merwe, who was attacked in
the same spot last week, shared Shaun’s incident on his Facebook page.
Wimpie and Elize Jansen van Rensburg, a South African professional
cyclist, were cycling from Gordon’s Bay to Strand when they were attacked at
about 5.40am last Wednesday.
“About 5km into our cycling session three suspects attacked us. They
pulled Elize from her bike and flung her down on the pavement,” Wimpie says.
“I fought back but at one stage I realised it’s either her or it’s the
bike,” he adds.
Elize was seriously injured and has fractures to her hip, pelvis and
coccyx. The attackers made off with her cellphone.
Wimpie says the cycling community is upset and worried about the attacks
on cyclists in the area.
“Elize’s husband was also attacked in the same area 18 months ago and
his bike was stolen. Recently, a brick was thrown at a cyclist there and he was
also mugged.”
With the festive season approaching the attacks are a source of concern.
“We have a huge problem in this area,” Wimpie says.
