Stray arrow hits pensioner
A stray arrow almost took Mr Nico Swart’s eye out, fortunately, he was wearing glasses.
On April 6 Swart had returned from an outing in town to his home in Eden Park when he was struck by an arrow.
“I had just got out of my car, when I heard something hit the car park rafter, I looked up and felt it brush my glasses and hit my shoulder,” said Swart.
‘You could have taken someone’s eye out’
The arrow ricocheted off Swart’s shoulder, leaving him with an open wound which began to swell up almost immediately.
“I looked down to see an arrow at my feet and wondered how it got there. According to the neighbours there were children playing with a bow and arrow, shooting the arrow back and forth,” said Swart.
Swart walked back to his home, arrow in hand where he began treating the wound, cleaning it and covering it with gauze.
“It’s dangerous to play with these things in a built-up area, especially a retirement village. Their parents should have taken them to an open field or park to shoot,” he said.
Swart picked up the arrow and showed it to WITBANK NEWS.
“I just want to thank the Heavenly Father, it could have been much worse, I could have lost my eye,” he said as he showed the tip.
Swart reckons the arrow was fired from about 60 meters away and believes that had the distance been closer he would have been severely hurt, not to mention that the arrow is fitted with a blunt tip, that played a role in minimising the damage to Swart’s shoulder.
The following morning Swart’s shoulder began to hurt, he sought medical attention at the nearby clinic where the sisters treated and cleaned his wound, he also received medication to assist with reducing the swelling as well as the pain he was experiencing.
“That arrow could have seriously hurt or even killed someone, people need to be aware how dangerous these weapons can be,” said Swart.
Swart has not pressed charges against the youngsters, and believes they have learnt their lesson – he however holds onto the arrow as a keepsake of the ordeal.
“Weapons, such as a bow and arrow need to be handled with caution and care as well as responsibility by its owner, although its not classified under the dangerous weapons act, parents should still be cautious and supervise their children when allowing them to practice or play with a bow and arrow as it might lead to criminal prosecution should someone be maliciously or purposely injured,” said Capt Eddie Hall, Witbank Police communications.
Dr Carina Schutte, Eden Park Director, was unable to comment on the incident that occurred.
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