71-year-old man critical after altercation over parking at OR Tambo
Airport management has provided the necessary video footage to the police which are investigating the assault.
A 71-year-old man is in critical condition in hospital following an altercation about a parking space at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday morning.
The man, whose name has not been released, suffered serious head injuries.
“Management of OR Tambo International Airport is greatly saddened by the serious injuries suffered by a 71-year-old man during an altercation outside the airport buildings on Sunday morning,” said Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, airport spokesperson, in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon.
The altercation took place at 10.12am, apparently over a parking space in front of the airport terminal building.
She said airport management has viewed video footage of the incident. The video shows that an altercation broke out between a driver in a green SUV (the 71-year-old man) and a driver in a gold motor vehicle. The video shows that the SUV driver got out of his vehicle and kicked the fender of the gold vehicle.
The driver of the gold vehicle got out and the two men argued and then began throwing punches. An airport security officer patrolling the lower road way intervened within one minute of the incident.
The driver of the gold vehicle then went into the passenger terminal building and returned with two people and their luggage.
While the driver of the gold vehicle was loading luggage into the boot, the driver of the green SUV returned and resumed the confrontation. While the driver of the gold vehicle was attempting to get into his vehicle, the SUV driver poked him in the face.
Punches were then again thrown as the airport security officer attempted to separate the individuals. During the brawl the driver of the SUV fell to the ground. The driver of the gold vehicle drove off.
The airport security officer can be seen on the video attempting to separate the individuals and resolve matters throughout the altercation which lasted about four minutes.
Additional airport security officers arrived on the scene within five minutes. Police officers and paramedics arrived on the scene at about 10.35am. The injured person was transported to hospital by paramedics by 10.39am.
Airport management has provided the necessary video footage to the police which is investigating the assault.
