John Mitchell assaulted

[Mackie]

11 October 2010

 

 

 

John Mitchell comments on home invasion

 

 

 

October 11 – Golden Lions Rugby Union head coach John Mitchell has spoken about the break in at his Hyde Park apartment on Saturday night, 9 October 2010 where he was stabbed in the thigh and upper arm.

 

 

 

Two intruders broke into the house shared by Mitchell and Wayne Taylor, conditioning coach of the GLRU, in the early hours of Sunday morning where they stole electronic appliances before fleeing.

 

 

 

Mitchell was taken to hospital in Sandton where he was treated and received stitches before being released. Mitchell returned to work this morning.

 

 

 

“I’m not feeling great, obviously, but my injuries are not too bad and I just thank God that they missed the artery in my leg when they stabbed me.

 

 

 

“This was a very unfortunate incident, and I wouldn’t wish it on any other person to be held hostage and woken in that manner by having an intruder in your room, feeling both your and your friends’ lives are in danger.

 

 

 

“The security at the complex was insufficient on Saturday night, as we have lived there safely for over three months. The security company has a lot to answer for with what happened to us.

 

 

 

“Possibly the worst part of the incident was not knowing if Tails [Wayne Taylor] was ok, or if he was even alive. Tails managed to climb out the window and call the police for help. This was the best thing he could have done, and I commend his decision to escape the apartment as he did not know if they were armed.

 

 

 

“I went for some trauma counseling on Sunday evening which was very beneficial, and I now have a process to work through on myself. I cannot dwell on this and I need to move forward.

 

 

 

“I am still very committed to the Lions. This is a beautiful country and I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to work here. I won’t let this deter my commitment or passion for the team, but I need to make sure that I am totally secure in where I live, as it is not at all nice waking up and having to defend your life.

 

 

 

“The players have been incredibly supportive, but I’m trying to not dwell too much on what has happened. I need to find closure now and move on with my life.

 

 

 

“Thank you to everyone from my colleagues to the media to supporters of the Lions for their support. It has been tremendous and I do appreciat

[Harry Potter]

You just took a stab in the dark there, didn't you?

No I did not, I heard something on the news last week, but could have the cat by the bls

[Mackie]

You guys must try being a Lions supporter living in Cape Town!

I feel you bro, lived in CPT and now in KZN, been a tough 10 years.

[Shebeen]

Ja, the kiwi and aussie press are well stuck into it already. The aussies are still quite keen to host the world cup, got their 9 stadiums on standby. Timing is not good as he really has turned around the lions and was going to be moving his family here from perth.

 

Thing is he was supposed to be in some fancy hyde park security estate, but woke up when the two okes were in his room. Is that normal for joburg? Also I thought only us capies used knives, what happened to guns up there?

[AndreZA]

No I did not, I heard something on the news last week, but could have the cat by the bls

 

In the future if you go to Ellispark and they search you for a weapon and you do not have one, they will give you one.

 

The Bulls have "'n Flou bul eet nie van die vloer af nie", and the Lions will have "Umshini wami (bring me my machine gun".

[pastapouch]

 

Thing is he was supposed to be in some fancy hyde park security estate, but woke up when the two okes were in his room. Is that normal for joburg? Also I thought only us capies used knives, what happened to guns up there?

He questioned the security company in an interview. Complexes and estates aren't that secure. Knives, well most poeple don't own guns anymore, so they're also a good option for robberies.

[Lucky Luke.]

Being a lion coach must be a dangerous job. What was he training them to do?

[perry]

Thats so kuk, he lives in a good area and in a complex and the buggers still break in. But good to hear he still wants to coach in SA

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I think the OP was more questioning the state of crime in the country and the safety of his family, not the status / position / employment of the person who was stabbed.

 

I tend to agree with him in any event, I was reading the story in the newspaper about the case of the young girl who sat with her dead father for hours, I mean it sounds to me like it was a revenge killing, pure and simple and I can only imagine the emotional scars that poor little girl will carry through life.

 

Its been said a million times, there is crime all over the world, but theres a differance between "killing a father for a mobile phone, and pick pocketing a fathers mobile phone".!