Man set alight in Bishop Lavis rescued by quick-thinking Good Samaritan

A 32-year-old man is lucky to be alive after he was assaulted, stabbed multiple times, set alight and dumped during the early hours of Monday morning in Bishop Lavis.

The victim sustained three stab wounds, one above his left eye, in the back of his neck and on the left side of his neck and was also burned in both his upper arms, his stomach and back.

The unidentified man was found around 5am in Jessica Street by a passer-by who was able to extinguish the fire.

The good Samaritan, who wants to protect his identity, said he is a chauffeur and was on his way home in Bishop Lavis from Cape Town International Airport when he saw what he thought were old clothes burning but soon realised that it was a man on fire.

The man explained: “I was first on the scene after dropping people off at the airport, when I saw clothes burning.

"I did not know it was a person burning but as I got close I saw this guy was moving. I got out of my vehicle and extinguished the fire with sand because there was nobody who was outside to assist with water.

“I saw the man was stabbed.  I think he was assaulted somewhere else and dumped there because he was wearing a white top that was covered in blood, but the spot where he was lying had no blood. He had wounds in his head and stab wounds just above his eye which was swollen.”

“He is lucky to be alive and I am happy I was at the right place at the right time because his clothes were burned to his body. I don’t feel like a hero because that could have been one of my family members, but I am thankful I was able to be a helping hand.”

Chairperson for the Bishop Lavis Community Police Forum, Amanda Davids said she received a message from residents alerting her to the incident to which she called the ambulance for assistance.

She said: “I received a message from a community member that a male was dumped in Jessica Street just before 6am this morning. He was bleeding and set alight. I contacted an ambulance and they responded very quickly.”

Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that an attempted murder case is open for investigation.

“This office confirms that Bishop Lavis police are investigating a case of attempted murder, following an incident that occurred at Jessica Street, Bishop Lavis.”

“According to reports, a 32-year-old male was stabbed and set alight by unknown suspects. He sustained three stab wounds, one above his left eye, on the back of his neck and on the left side of his neck. He also burned both upper arms, his stomach and back.”

“The motive for this attack is under investigation.”

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