THE Port Elizabeth woman who survived after she and her grandchild were shot on the Kempston Road off-ramp at the weekend knew something bad was about to happen just moments before armed robbers shot them.
Marlene Victor and her granddaughter Jessica Webster, 4, were hit with the same bullet after their car ran out of fuel and stalled.
Victor's partner Antoinette Smith, who was driving the car, as well as Smith's two children Kaylin, 12, and Dawie, 10, escaped unhurt when the suspects shot at the car and then made off with cellphones, wallets and jewellery.
"An elderly couple drove us to the hospital and then they drove Kaylin and Dawie back to Antoinette who had remained at the car giving a statement to the police because we were admitted to the trauma unit.
"We did not get their names but we want to say thank you so much," Victor said.
She said she and Jessica were lucky to be alive after they were struck with the same bullet, when the assailant shot through the passenger side window. It hit Jessica's arm initially, and then got lodged in Victor's knee.
Smith said they were driving down Kempston Road towards the freeway at about 4.10pm on Saturday when they were forced to pull over to the side of the road because their vehicle had run out of fuel.
"We were driving to Bluewater Bay because I was taking Kaylin to my ex as it was her birthday. When we stopped we called for friends to assist us and they were on their way bringing us some petrol," she said.
After 20 minutes Smith saw two men walking towards them. They stopped to urinate at a barrier and she instructed the children not to look at them and told Victor to close all the windows and she locked all the doors.
Victor said suddenly the men approached the vehicle and fired one shot through the passenger side window where she was sitting with Jessica on her lap.
"There was no warning or knocking. They just fired one shot. I felt a burning sensation but I did not realise that I had been shot at first. I heard Jessica crying, but it was more of a moan and when I pulled her close to me I felt blood on my chest. It was like something in a movie," she said.
Once they had shattered the window, the suspects opened the door and demanded cellphones, wallets and jewellery.
"They held a gun to Antoinette's head and Kaylin then gave them her R300 birthday money and asked them not to shoot her mom. She saved her mother's life," Victor said.
After being treated, both Victor and Jessica were discharged but they will both need regular check-ups and physiotherapy.
"The principal at Newton Park Primary School gave Kaylin R300 back today at school and she and Dawie received a hero's welcome. We are very grateful for their kindness," Victor said.
She said they had been overwhelmed by the support they had received from members of the public.
Smith said, "We want to warn people out there who have car trouble not to call friends first, rather call the police to wait with you because it is not safe anywhere anymore."
