More than two months after Durban sportsman Mhlengi Gwala fell victim to a vicious saw attack, he has taken his first steps without crutches.
The triathlete from Chesterville, west of the city, was attacked by three men who attempted to cut off his leg using a chainsaw in a bizarre early morning attack, which he managed to survive after flagging down a security vehicle for help.
The attackers – who pounced on Gwala while he was training near the University of KwaZulu-Natal – almost dismembered Gwala’s right lower leg, hacking through 80% of the bone below his knee.
The 27-year-old successfully underwent surgery at a private hospital and awoke to an outpouring of local and international support including a crowdfunding campaign Get Mhlengi Back on His Bike – which raised over R700,000.
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