A Kameeldrift West resident who was shot in the chest during a recent encounter with intruders on his property is still recovering in hospital.

The family of Dawid Nortje is still traumatised by the shooting that took place on October 27 just after midnight, when he walked into the home screaming that he had just been shot.

Nortje’s fiancé, Luané Combrinck, recalls that one moment he was building a table outside as he enjoyed doing woodwork and the next he fell into her arms after he was shot.

According to Combrinck, Nortje had told her that while he was working on the table, he had heard a noise on the side of their house.

“At first, he thought nothing of it as the dogs were not barking to alert him of danger, but he went out to inspect the property. That is when he came upon two men in his yard. One drew his firearm. He used the table to defend himself by throwing it at them, but it was already too late as he was shot.”

Combrinck said the suspects ran away.

“He walked into the house screaming that the guys were armed as he locked the door. A few moments later, he fell into my arms.”

She quickly reacted and reached out to Greenlight Community Safety Projects, who reacted swiftly to come to their aid.

Project spokesperson Bianca Burger said a member arrived first to assist the family.

“We received a voice note of a woman screaming and crying over the phone for help. Our officer Nick Pretorius rushed to the scene and called law enforcement and the ambulance for assistance.

“When he entered the house, the suspects had already fled.”

Nortje was transported to the Kalafong Hospital for treatment.

“He has a pipe in his lung that is used to drain the fluids and is also going through physical therapy.

“We are all traumatised as a family. All six of our children were home when the incident took place. Once he is back home, we will go as a family for trauma counselling,” Combrinck said.

She thanked the community, Greenlight Projects, sector 4 CPF, Ambulink, and the community who came out to support her.

She believes that without their help, he would not have been alive.