78-year-old knocked by SAPS van, dies after agonising 10-hour wait for medical care
Lionel's state deteriorated while waiting to be transferred for a CT scan.
Image: Supplied
The family of 78-year-old Lionel Wyngaard say they were left traumatised after their grandfather was knocked, allegedly by a police vehicle, and waited nearly 10 hours for a medical transfer to have a CT scan performed.
Residing in Seawinds, Wyngaard was well known in the community as a skilled carpenter and devoted grandfather.
Speaking to the Cape Argus sister publication, Weekend Argus, his daughter, Melissa Wyngaard, recounted the heartbreaking hours after her father was struck by a vehicle while walking along Prince George Drive on May 18.
“As we approached the scene, we saw police vehicles, a fire truck and medics. My dad was sitting there being treated by paramedics. Bystanders told us he had been knocked over close to a pedestrian crossing.”
According to witnesses, Wyngaard had been crossing near the pedestrian crossing while the robot was green for pedestrians and red for motorists.
Melissa alleges the SAPS vehicle turned into a lane from the wrong side of the road with such force that he was flung onto the pavement.
Lionel Wyngaard at the scene.
Image: Supplied
She said paramedics later asked whether the family could transport Wyngaard themselves while waiting for an ambulance equipped to handle severe trauma cases.
In shock and fearing for his life, the family scrambled to find transport themselves while trying to comfort him.
A neighbour eventually agreed to assist and drove Wyngaard to Retreat Community Health Centre while emergency personnel escorted them there.
Melissa said once at the hospital, the family was largely left to cope on their own while Wyngaard's condition visibly deteriorated over several hours.
Doctors later stitched injuries to his forehead, eye and lip, but Melissa said the bleeding continued while Wyngaard made gurgling sounds as the hours passed.
The family said they only realised the seriousness of his injuries hours later when they were informed he had suffered a cranial injury and urgently needed a CT scan at either Victoria Hospital or Groote Schuur Hospital.
Melissa said despite her father’s worsening condition and visible head injuries, the family endured an agonising wait of nearly 10 hours for an ambulance.
“At one point they told us we could take him at our own risk," she said.
She believes her father may still have survived had he received faster emergency intervention and specialist care for his head injuries.
Melissa’s sister, Candice Julies, said the last time she saw her father alive was shortly before he was taken for the CT scan.
“A doctor later came to speak to us. Two minutes after the CT scan, he passed away.”
Lionel Wyngaard
Image: Supplied
Responding to queries, Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness spokesperson Shimoney Regter said Wyngaard was brought to Retreat Community Health Centre at around 1:10pm on May 18.
“He was promptly triaged and assessed, and ongoing clinical care, including monitoring and treatment, was provided while arrangements were made for his transfer to a higher level of care.
“A transfer was requested from Emergency Medical Services (EMS). While awaiting transport, Mr Wyngaard remained under continuous clinical observation and received appropriate care in line with his presenting condition.”
Regter added that Wyngaard was later transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital, where he was admitted and managed by the clinical team.
“Sadly, despite these efforts, Mr Wyngaard passed away in the early hours of 19 May 2026,” Regter said.
She added that, given the circumstances surrounding the incident and the nature of Wyngaard's injuries, the matter had been referred for a medico-legal post-mortem examination as part of standard procedure.
Meanwhile, SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Steenberg police had opened a culpable homicide case involving an adult male and a police vehicle following the incident.