Rider attacked with a blunt saw while on a training ride in South Africa

Mhlengi Gwala is recovering in hospital after being attacked on a training ride in a horrifying, and seemingly random manner by unknown assailants. Gwala was dragged off his bike during an early morning training ride in Durban, South Africa by three attackers, who apparently then attempted to cut off his legs with a blunt handsaw.

Gwala survived the attack when his assailants suddenly fled, leaving him to crawl back to the road and seek help. The triathlete was found on the side of the road by a local private security company and taken to hospital.

The injuries inflicted by the dull saw are serious, but not life threatening. Dennis Jackson‚ director of the Elite Athlete Development programme Gwala was a part of, told The Associated Press that the attackers sawed into Gwala’s right calf, damaging muscle, nerves, and bone, before switching to the left leg and then abandoning Gwala to his injuries. The attacters missed a main artery, and surgeons are confident they can save the leg, Jackson said.

The athletic community quickly voiced its horror at the attack, and support of Mhlengi Gwala. “Absolutely disgusting! How safe are we on SA roads?” Olympic bronze medalist in the triathlon Henri Schoeman wrote on Twitter.

A friend of mine, cycling in the Durban area was robbed by three people this morning, Then they attempted to saw off both legs with a chainsaw. Blade too blunt and only got half way through one and started on the other. Absolutely disgusting! How safe are we on SA roads?

— Henri Schoeman (@H_Schoeman) March 6, 2018

The attack on the “star athlete” was described as “totally unacceptable” by South Africa’s deputy sports minister, Gert Oosthuizen, who also stated police are investigating the incident.

Speaking to TimesLive, Jackson described the attack as “really bizzare.” “I haven’t quite got to grips with exactly what happened. It seems like they pulled him into a bush while he was on a training ride,” the director continued. They had a handsaw and went for one of his legs‚ which is the concerning part. We don’t yet know how far they went in‚ whether they were trying to cut it off‚ or what the circumstances are. All we know is that Mhlengi is alive‚ he is talking and that he is under medical care.”

Gwala has represented South Africa at international triathlons on multiple occasions, including in Chicago and the Netherlands. Jackson said Gwala would miss the South African Triathlon Championships he was scheduled to compete in in two weeks time.