Hero cop shot 5 times, survives

[shooter]

Much respect to Warrant Officer Jan Pretorius

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...vives-20101018


Buks Viljoen, Beeld

2010-10-18 22:56

Mbombela - A policeman from Balfour, who was recently hailed as a hero for saving a young boy from drowning, is in hospital in a serious condition after being shot five times by robbers.

Warrant Officer Jan Pretorius was seriously wounded on Monday morning at about 05:00, when he was involved in a shoot-out with a gang that had wanted to break into a shop in the town.

As he lay heavily wounded on the ground, Pretorius opened fire on a robber who kept shooting as he charged toward him.

The robber was hit and collapsed, dead, only 1m from where Pretorius lay.

According to Abie Khoabane, group chief of police in the Balfour area, the gang was caught as they were breaking in through the steel roof of the Pep Stores building.

A member of the public apparently saw the robbers walking on the roof of the building and phoned Pretorius, who was not on duty at the time.

On his way there, Pretorius called for back-up.

Stolen pistol

Khoabane said shots were fired at Pretorius when he arrived at the scene.

He was shot in the right shoulder, twice in the right leg, and once in each foot. Despite his injuries, he called emergency services himself.

The pistol used by the robber who was shot dead was also hit during the shoot-out.

The other three robbers fled the scene.

It was later determined that the pistol found near the robber's body had been stolen from the police.

Commercial explosives were found at the safe in the shop. Police later also picked up a pack with explosives outside the shop.

Child in distress

"They were probably going to use it to blow open the safe," said Khoabane.

A severely wounded Pretorius was admitted to the Union Hospital in Alberton. His condition was still serious but stable on Monday, said hospital spokesperson Lorinda Xavier.

In August Pretorius saved a boy from drowning in a dam outside Balfour.




He was driving past the dam when he saw the child in distress in the water.

He stormed into the dam, carried the child out and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The child later jumped up and ran away.

Pretorius also had a close shave during a robbery three months ago, when he was attacked with a knife.

However, he escaped the attack unscathed, because the knife lodged in his bullet-proof vest.

[nkosi]

Well done! I hope he pulls through. This is the kind of police action that law abiding citizens should expect and that governments should reward.

Character is everything.

[b20]

Well done sir!

Pistol "stolen" from the police. Bought more likely...

[G-force]

A great and brave man,I hope he is rewarded with good health and prosperity.

[Bushboy]

There are some good dedicated guys out there. I hope he enjoys a speedy and full recovery.

[shooter]

Apparently he was off duty, but he was still called. Shows that the community trusts him.

[Paul]

Big ups. Hope he recovers.

Must be terrible for him to know that he was shot with a police weapon.