UK hiker horrified by knifing of group
Two victims remain critical, while police hunt for suspects
AN ELDERLY woman who is in the country on holiday relived the horror of when she, her husband and other hikers were attacked on the Silvermine hiking trial near Kalk Bay. Her husband is currently in hospital recovering from his wounds.
Yvonne Cormack, 67, from the UK said she and her husband were hiking with a group of seven other hikers on Saturday when they were attacked by two men.
“It was around 10am in the Silvermine Nature Reserve. We were walking and the guys came running at us with knives. They first attacked one of the women, who was standing on a rock taking photos.
“Then they told us to throw our phones and bags to the ground. Next they started attacking my husband Don (Cormack, 71), who they stabbed nine times all over his body. I took a stick and started hitting at the robber then he started stabbing me too. He stabbed me in my arm and back of my head.
“I screamed at Don to give him his bag which Don did and I also gave them mine. Then they attacked Don again. The other robber followed one of the other hikers, who ran to get a phone signal to call for help. His face was brutally damaged after he was hit with a rock. He is in a critical condition in hospital.
“They operated on him for four hours. Another hiker’s face was also smashed with a rock. They attacked five of us. After they took our bags and phones they left.
“The others luckily found a group not far from us who had a doctor and rescue officer with them. Because Don and the other guy could not walk I waited with them till the rescue helicopter came. I have been hiking on the mountain for two years and it is the first time something like this has happened. We are lucky to be alive. I won’t forget that knife coming at me and cutting into my skin,” she said.
Speaking from his hospital bed at the Victoria Hospital, Don Cormack said he was still traumatised after the attack. His memory of the events was also still a bit vague.
Police said they were still looking for the suspects.
NEXT THEY STARTED ATTACKING MY HUSBAND, WHO THEY STABBED NINE TIMES ALL OVER HIS BODY