A man is currently in hospital under police guard after he allegedly stabbed his child, at an indoor adventure play park in Durbanville on Saturday.
According to police reports, the 35-year-old man, who arrived at the facility with his wife and son for a scheduled play session, stabbed the child in an isolated area at Ipic Play at the Ipic Shopping Centre, before sustaining self-inflicted injuries with a knife.
According to the facility, the incident took place in a non-public area and did not involve any of their equipment or play areas. No one aside from the family involved, staff and the officials witnessed the event.*
It is believed the family are embroiled in a domestic dispute, and they were in the process of separating.
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi says when authorities arrived at the scene, the man threatened to stab the police officers but the members took action and disarmed the suspect.
“He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Reports suggested that a toddler who also sustained injuries was also transported to a hospital for medical treatment.”
According to Swartbooi, the circumstances surrounding the incident is now still under investigation.
“We appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident to please call Crime Stop on 08600 10111”
Meanwhile, the private security and emergency response team, Titanium Securitas, says following the stabbing incident, the mother of the toddler fled the scene with her child and approached their medical team (whose ambulance van was stationed close by) seeking medical assistance.
In a social media statement, the team says as they approached the vehicle, they noticed the mother was covered in blood, holding her lifeless child, who had life-threatening stab wounds to the neck.
“[They] immediately took the child and loaded him in the ambulance in an attempt to stabilize him, after which he was transported to Durbanville Mediclinic Hospital for further care.”
Upon arrival at the hospital, the group says they received further information regarding the father, who is also in critical condition still at the scene of the crime. Upon arrival at the scene, the team says they were informed that the father was still inside a room on the scene holding a large knife.
“After a lengthy standoff and the assistance of the South African Police, the father was detained and treated on scene. Once stabilized, the father was taken in a critical condition to another medical facility under police guard to be further treated.”
The toddler is said to be in a stable condition.
Following the stabbing incident, Ipic Play issued a statement reassuring its customers that the incident was an isolated and private family matter and no other visitors at the park were at risk.
While operations at the play park were paused on Saturday, Ipic Play says they are open for business again and are awaiting feedback from police regarding its investigations.
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EDITORS NOTE: The article was updated to reflect that the incident happened in an isolated area of the play park, and did not involve any of the facility’s play equipment, nor was it witnessed by the public.
