A pregnant mother has been hacked to death in bed while on a family holiday at a South African resort.
Karen Turner, 31, died at the scene. She was three months pregnant. Her husband, 33-year-old Matthew Turner, suffered serious injuries to his upper body and has undergone life-saving surgery.
The South African couple's 23-month-old son, Hayden, was not harmed in the attack.
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Karen Turner's brother, Ian Crouch, told the South African online publication News24 that his brother-in-law can recall waking up to a man attacking him, while another stabbed his wife.
"He said he managed to sort of grab the guy and there was a tussle down the stairs," Crouch told the outlet.
Crouch said no valuables were taken or demanded in the attack, which took place at the Hluleka Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
"They were attacked in their sleep by two intruders," Crouch told South African newspaper TimesLIVE.
"He thinks because of the resistance, they left. They didn't have time to take anything."
The couple's family friends from KwaZulu-Natal, who were staying in a neighbouring chalet, were reportedly woken by Hayden's screams. They banged on the door until Matthew answered, covered in blood.
Captain Dineo Koena of the Eastern Cape police told News24 that police arrived at the chalet around 3am on Tuesday (local time).
Koena told local media there were no signs of forced entry and the incident "was not like a robbery".
Crouch told TimesLIVE that Hayden "is fine" and in the care of his grandparents and aunt.
Matthew Turner is said to be in a stable condition in the ICU at Pietermaritzburg hospital.
Matthew, an Underberg dairy farmer and Karen, a substitute teacher, were reportedly staying at the resort to attend a wedding in the province, according to TimesLIVE.
The attack remains under police investigation as more information becomes available.
Newshub.
