Plucky women fend off armed attackers

KNIFE-wielding robbers took on more than they bargained for when they targeted three plucky women at Lake Eland last weekend.

And management has taken measures to improve visitor safety at the much-loved private game reserve in the Oribi area.

Dominique Grizel and Christianne Quinche of Hibberdene are both martial arts enthusiasts who are trained in self-defence. The hours they gave to acquiring these skills were used to good effect when they decided to spend the weekend at the reserve with a visiting friend.

They were staying in the fishermen’s cottages at the big lake about 10km into the game reserve when they came under attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.

After spraying pepper spray into the cottage three men, armed with knives, broke in by breaking the glass in the door. When they demanded money the women tried to appease their attackers by handing over their cash. When they saw this was not working the women fought back, forcing the men out of the cabin and giving themselves time to regroup.

By keeping calm, using their heads and putting their training into action they were able to fend off their attackers for a good 10 minutes and telephone for help. They then retreated and locked themselves in the bathroom where they waited for assistance. Fortunately Dominique had been able to hide the keys to their vehicle under a pillow. so the robbers fled on foot, taking their victims’ handbags and cellphones.

The women were full of praise for the Lake Eland management team and were impressed by the rapid response to the emergency. While it took about 20 minutes for staff members and security personnel from Omibidi Security to drive through the reserve to come to their aid, a staff member stayed in constant cellphone contact with the traumatised women, who were greatly reassured by this. After their rescuers arrived the three women were conveyed to alternative accommodation closer to the reserve’s reception area, where they spent the rest of the weekend.

Lake Eland directors and management staff are devastated by the robbery. It had been the first and only serious security-related incident at the reserve since it had been established more than 10 years ago, said reserve manager Jennifer Fuller.

“The safety of our guests is paramount. For this reason the directors have taken the decision to close the fishermen’s accommodation at the more remote big lake. In future we will only allow large groups of visitors to stay there,” she said.

She praised the professional way the security company had handled the situation and thanked the security officers for their rapid response. It was just so sad that their guests had undergone such a traumatic experience. Police were investigating the robbery, she added.

Although the experience had been a frightening one for Dominique and Christianne, it had proved to them the value of acquiring self-defence skills. They have not been put off Lake Eland by their bad experience, either, and look forward to a return visit soon.