Chainsaw attackers try to cut off Ndwedwe athlete’s legs

In a vicious attack, three men tried to saw off a local triathlete’s legs with a chainsaw in the early hours of Tuesday.

Mhlengi Gwala was training near the University of Kwazulu-Natal just after 3am when he was jumped and dragged into the bushes by three men.

The men reportedly showed no interest in robbing him, instead pinning him to the ground before using the chainsaw to try cut off his leg.

For unknown reasons, the men broke off their attack and left, after which Gwala managed to drag himself along the ground back to the road and flagged down a passing motorist.

Fellow athlete Henri Schoeman broke the news on his Twitter account:

A friend of mine, cycling in the Durban area was robbed by three people this morning, Then they attempted to saw off both legs with a chainsaw. Blade too blunt and only got half way through one and started on the other. Absolutely disgusting! How safe are we on SA roads?

— Henri Schoeman (@H_Schoeman) March 6, 2018

Dennis Jackson, director of the Elite Athlete Development Program which Gwala is a member of, told the Courier that cyclists often trained in the early morning, especially if they are going on a long ride and to avoid traffic.

“Mhlengi is one of our most promising athletes, he has represented South Africa both in the USA and Netherlands,” said Jackson.

“They managed to saw all the way to the bone, severing most of the muscles, tendons and arteries in his leg but thank God they didn’t hit the main artery.”

He said he could not imagine what the motive behind the brutal attack could be.

“He is one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, a true gentleman. I just cannot wrap my mind around why someone would do this – it has shaken the whole triathlete fraternity.”

According to Jackson, Gwala spent most of yesterday under sedation, though he did wake up and was talking. He said doctors were confident they would be able to save the leg, though how much function he would retain remains to be seen.

Gwala will go in to surgery this morning where doctors will assess the damage to the bone.

Jackson asked South Africans to pray for Gwala, who he called a true ambassador of the Rainbow Nation.

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