‘Lazy cops refused to assist bleeding man’

A WEEK ago, Atlantis ward councillor Barbara Rass was relaxing with family in the front yard of her home when she was begged by a bleeding man, Shafick Adams and his friend to call the police.

The men had allegedly been attacked by a group of men, who were still after them.

Rass called the police and ambulance services. After waiting for more than an hour, she rushed the man to a police station in her broken car.

She claimed when she arrived at the police station, five “arrogant” uniformed officers refused to assist the dying man who had bled pools of blood in the charge office.

She alleged a police van was present and they made no attempt to escort her or the man to the hospital.

“This man was falling and his friend was helping him to walk until they reached my car. I called the police and there was no answer. I called a lot of sector numbers, I received one answer and this person was not on duty.

“I waited for a while and a police officer who assisted me said she had thought they had sent someone to arrive but it was getting dark,” she said.

Rass said she had no choice but to drive the bleeding man to the hospital in her broken vehicle.

“I did what I could, the fan belt was screeching as I made my way into the police station. There were five police officers as I turned into the police station, they were leaving the charge office.

“They saw him covered in blood. They said they are not medical staff, I must take the man to the hospital.’’

Adams has since been discharged from hospital. He said he was disappointed with the police and grateful for Rass.

Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk said they had arrested one man for the attack who appeared in court on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He said Rass was advised to report the matter to management, adding an ambulance had arrived at the scene later that evening after they had left.

Atlantis SAPS concurred that an ambulance was dispatched to the scene.