NORTH WEST. – Marcus (20) from Hartbeespoort Dam fought armed intruders for nearly an hour after they broke into his house. Marcus, who turns 21 soon, was attacked on Wednesday morning, 4 November, with knives, a garden fork and a hammer. According to his mother, Zelda Heunes, her greatest concern was not his safety, but protecting him.
Heunes explains that Marcus managed to disarm one attacker who was armed with a garden fork and pushed two intruders down the stairs. However, two more men appeared. During the fight, he was struck from behind with a hammer, overpowered and tied up. The attackers stole his PlayStation, cellphone, computer equipment, headphones, WiFi router and speaker. Marcus later told his mother he was afraid she would hear the attack and come outside, because he feared the attackers would hurt her too. Although he sustained injuries and bruises, he was not stabbed by any of the knives.
Heunes describes her son's survival as a miracle and thanks PPS Security and the SAPS officer who responded to the complaint. She warns other residents to check their alarms, electric fences and security systems regularly and ensure everything is working properly.
Nuusflits has requested police comment.
Read the full social media post below:
Zelda Heunes from Hartbeespoort Dam: It took me a while to write this as you can imagine writing this meant reliving it
– MY SON FOUGHT ARMED INTRUDERS FOR ALMOST AN HOUR. BUT WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS WHY HE FOUGHT.
On Wednesday morning, 4 November, my son Marcus, who turns 21 in just a few weeks, went through something no person should ever have to experience.
The intruders had knives, a garden fork and a hammer.
Marcus fought off the man armed with the garden fork and managed to disarm him. He then pushed two intruders down the stairs, leaving one unconscious. But suddenly, two more appeared.
THREE ARMED MEN AGAINST MY SON.
He continued fighting for almost an hour until one of them came up behind him and struck him in the back with a hammer. The pain stopped him, and they managed to overpower him, tie him up and steal his belongings.
But here is what breaks my heart the most.
MY SON WASN'T FIGHTING FOR HIS BELONGINGS. HE WAS FIGHTING TO PROTECT ME.
Throughout the attack, the intruders repeatedly asked where his parents were. He told them his dad was sleeping and is armed it will turn out bad for them if they go to the house. When they demanded the house keys, he told them he didn't have them.
Later, Marcus said something I will never forget:
Mom, all I was praying was that the house was locked and that you couldn't hear us.
And then:
Mom, it could have turned out really bad if you came out. I would rather fight them alone knowing you are safe.
While I was safely inside, completely unaware of what was happening, my son was fighting armed intruders, praying that I wouldn't hear him and come outside.
He was protecting his mother.
UNTIL IT IS YOUR CHILD…
We read about violent crime, feel sorry for the families and carry on with our lives.
Until there is a knock on your door in the early hours of the morning.
Until you open it and find YOUR CHILD STANDING THERE, TIED UP AND COVERED IN BLOOD.
Battered and bruised, looking at you with fear and relief in his eyes.
Relief that he had managed to get away.
And relief that YOU were safe.
That is an image I will carry for the rest of my life.
OUR OWN PERSONAL MIRACLE. 
Despite the knives, garden fork and hammer, NOT ONE BLADE PIERCED HIS BODY.
I thank Yahweh that my son is still alive, because this could have ended so differently.
The intruders stole his PlayStation, monitor, cellphone, headphones, WiFi router and speaker.
Marcus has never been a child who asks for much. Those were his things. His little world. The things that brought him happiness.
Now, just before his 21st birthday, I see his anger and heartbreak. He feels as though everything he loves has been taken away.
I wish I could replace it all tomorrow. But we will save up and replace his belongings, one by one.
BECAUSE MATERIAL THINGS CAN BE REPLACED. MY SON CANNOT.
A WARNING
Please check your alarms, electric fences and security systems regularly, especially after thunderstorms and lightning. Don't simply assume everything is working as it should.
We have since reviewed and strengthened our security and put additional protective measures in place.
WE WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR.
We will be more vigilant, but we refuse to allow these criminals to control our lives.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PPS SECURITY AND SAPS.
Thank you to PPS Security and their responding officer for coming to our assistance.
Two SAPS officers arrived approximately half an hour later, followed by forensics and the detectives.
By 7 o'clock that morning, we already had a case number.
Their professionalism, thorough investigation and attention to detail genuinely impressed me. Credit where it is due. Thank you to everyone who responded.
TO MY BOY, MARCUS.
I am so incredibly proud of you.
Not because you fought, but because even when your own life was in danger, you were thinking about mine.
My boy, I wish you never had to be that brave.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO RISK YOUR LIFE TO BE MY HERO. YOU ALREADY ARE.
I know you're hurting. I know you're angry. And I wish I could take it all away.
But they took your belongings. They did not take your future.
We will rebuild your little world.
And I still get to hug you, hear your voice, tell you how much I love you and celebrate your 21st birthday with you.
That is worth more than everything those men stole.
. PLEASE SHARE OUR STORY.
Not for sympathy, but to warn another family.
Check your security. Be vigilant. Look out for one another.
And remember, the emotional scars of violent crime last long after the criminals have gone.
THEY TOOK EVERYTHING MY BOY LOVED, BUT THEY DID NOT TAKE MY BOY.
MY SON IS ALIVE. AND THAT IS OUR MIRACLE.
– A heartbroken, but eternally grateful mother.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
