Secunda’s Oom Johnny is in surgical ward

SECUNDA – A homeless man who was found beaten in the parking lot in front of Secunda Post Office yesterday, 2 May, appears to have sustained head injuries that has lead to possible bleeding on the brain.

Several Ridge Times readers commented online since the newspaper published a video yesterday, that a vagrant simply known as Oom Johnny was actually assaulted the previous day, 1 May.

He was apparently seen lying in the same spot for longer than a day before Ms Chantal Vorster from Paws 911 noticed that the vagrant was unresponsive and there was blood on his head.

She called for help and the provincial EMS transported him to Evander Hospital.

She said Oom Johnny was unresponsive.

Mr Andries Lee from Delta 1 Search and Rescue, and Mr André Venter who regularly supplied Oom Johnny and his two dogs with food, also went to the hospital in the afternoon to follow up on the man’s condition.

They escorted the provincial ambulance to Witbank last night where Oom Johnny was taken for a CT Scan and then returned to Secunda.

Mr Lee said Oom Johnny was admitted to the surgical ward at Evander Hospital this morning.

“I suspect he will be going to surgery because of bleeding on the brain,” said Mr Lee.

Ms Vorster and Because Dogs & Co have taken charge of Oom Johnny’s dogs Tommie and Trixie.