Who is Walter Fischel? Connecticut man robbed, shot in the face after car GPS directs him into South Africa's 'murder capital'
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA: Walter Fischel, a 55-year-old tourist from Connecticut, has survived a horrific ordeal in South Africa.
He was shot in the face and dragged out of his car by a gang of robbers who ambushed him in a dangerous township.
He had followed his car’s GPS system which had diverted him from the main road to avoid traffic.
How was Walter Fischel guided to Nyanga, a 'murder capital'?
Fischel had arrived in Cape Town from Connecticut and was on his way to Hermanus, a popular whale-watching destination in South Africa.
He had rented a car from Avis and picked up some local currency at the airport.
He said he trusted the GPS system in his car which guided him through Nyanga, once considered a 'murder capital' of South Africa, according to Independent Online.
Reportedly, South African police only enter the area heavily armed.
Fischel said he did not know he was in danger until it was too late. He told News 24, "The traffic in the township got slow enough until it eventually just stopped.
"Four men who seemed to be waiting opened the doors and I got shot in the face," he said.
What did the gang do to Walter Fischel in Nyanga?
Fischel said he tried to grab the pistol from the attacker, but they kicked him out of the car and took his belongings.
He said he crawled to the rear of his car opened the boot to get his travel bag and tried to run, but the gang chased him snatched his bag, and beat him.
He said he spat out several teeth and the bullet after being shot in the mouth.
The holiday-maker was left lying in the street covered in blood and woke up in hospital.
"I’m lucky to be here, I’m angry I didn’t see it coming, you know the ordeal. I mean who would have expected that in the middle of the day?" he told the news outlet.
How is Walter Fischel doing now?
Fischel said he plans to catch the first flight home and return to the home as soon as he is discharged from hospital in South Africa.
He warned fellow tourists not to trust their GPS systems and said, "This was an area close to the airport which you can easily stray into unintentionally and there should be more warnings in place to let travelers know.
"If this can happen at 3 pm then it can happen anytime. I’m extremely lucky to have made it out alive. But, as soon as I’m given the all-clear, I am leaving the country," he said.
Trauma surgeon Denis Allard who treated him had to secure his airways and repair his shattered jaw.
He said the doctors told him he was very lucky to survive the shooting.
British surgeon Kar Thao Teoh was shot dead in Nyanga
In August, according to US Sun, British surgeon Dr Kar Thao Teoh, 40, was shot dead in the same area after his GPS also diverted him off the same N2 motorway.
Dr Teoh from Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, was with several other adults and a child when his car drove into Nyanga and they were ambushed by protestors and he was brutally shot dead, the outlet mentioned.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said the motive was robbery. "He was robbed of his personal belongings, documents and clothing.
"A case of attempted murder and robbery with a firearm was registered at Mowbray," Van Wyk said.
The US embassy and consulate in South Africa issued a GPS advisory
Following the incident, the US embassy and consulate in South Africa issued a GPS advisory.
It said while traveling to South Africa, "Investigate your route in advance, stay on major highways, avoid shortcuts through townships, and avoid reliance on GPS navigation apps.
"When driving on city roads, the shortest and fastest route may not be the safest," it added.
It cited an example, "The safest approach to return a rental car to Cape Town International Airport is to take the N2 highway and follow signs to Airport Approach Rd (exit 16).
"Alternatively, request the rental car company to collect your vehicle and subsequently arrange an airport transfer from established taxi companies or established ridesharing services to reach the airport," in continued.