Two men suffered serious head and back injuries after a security gate at a Shoprite store in Mitchells Plain derailed and fell on top of them.
Shoprite on Tuesday confirmed the men had been standing near the moerse steel sliding gate at the delivery area when it came off its rails and toppled over, falling on the men at the store in Melody Walk in the Town Centre shopping mall.
Shoprite said contractors were immediately dispatched to repair the hek.
The men, aged 33 and 43, whose identities are known to the Daily Voice, had been sitting near the gate when it opened for a delivery vehicle.
Photos of the injured men lying on the ground were posted on social media.
IN PAIN: Ou waiting for medics. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Shoprite store manager, Mark Brink, confirmed the men were rushed to the Mitchells Plain District Hospital and that Shoprite staff members intended to visit them soon.
A witness at the scene, who asked not to be identified, says she tried to keep the men conscious while they waited for an ambulance.
INJURED: 2nd ou hurt by the gate. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
“One was bleeding from the head and the other said he cannot move,” says the woman, who had been shopping when the incident happened.
“I talked to them to keep them conscious and awake while they were waiting for the ambulance. This is just shocking.”
Robert Daniels, spokesperson for Emergency Medical and Forensic Pathology Services, says the men have been left with serious injuries: “Two adult males sustained head and back injuries when a security gate fell onto them at the Town Centre, Mitchells Plain.
“Both were very seriously injured and rushed to MP District Hospital.”
WATCHING: Bystanders. PHOTO: SUPPLIED.
Shoprite said in a statement: “We can confirm that two bystanders were unfortunately injured when a sliding security gate to the delivery area of Shoprite Melody Walk in Mitchells Plain derailed on 5 March.”
Neither the injured men nor their families could be reached for comment at this time.
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za