Couple ‘lucky to be alive’ after being stabbed on Table Mountain
A BRITISH couple said they were “lucky to be alive” after being stabbed and robbed as they climbed Table Mountain in South Africa.
Yvonne and Don Cormack, from Harlow in Essex, had been walking with a group of seven fellow hikers in the Cape Town reserve on Saturday morning when two of them suddenly pulled out knives and demanded they hand over belongings, including their mobile phones. Those who refused were then stabbed, and hit with rocks. The incident is said to have happened 30 minutes into the climb.
Mr Cormack, 71, was still in hospital yesterday being treated for nine knife wounds while his wife, 67, was also stabbed as she tried to protect her husband. She suffered cuts to her neck and arm as she hit one of the robbers with a walking stick. One of the hikers was in a critical condition, after being hit on the head with a rock.
“I have been hiking on the mountain for two years and it is the first time something like this has happened,” Mrs Cormack told South African newspaper Cape Argus. “We are lucky to be alive. I won’t forget that knife coming at me and cutting into my skin.”
They were rescued when another group of walkers, which included a doctor, found them on the mountain. Mr Cormack was airlifted to hospital. The couple recently moved to Cape Town because they were keen hikers.
The South African National Parks authority, which runs the Table Mountain National Park, said that it had stepped up patrols following an increase in recent muggings.
Two people have been arrested connection with another incident.
In the meantime, surveillance had also been increased and a number of observation points set up to monitor those on the mountain.
Merle Collins, Sanparks spokesman, stressed the public should be aware following the recent spate of incidents.
“To this point Table Mountain National Park has appointed a visitor safety team whose role it is to keep crime to a minimum in the national park,” she said.
“Management would like to caution the public not to take the law into their own hands and not to interfere in any official law enforcement duties.” in