Witness describes horror of finding Brit tourist dad, 40, dead slumped at wheel of bullet-riddled car in South Africa | The Sun

A WITNESS has described the horror moment he found a British dad slumped dead at the wheel of his bullet-riddled car in Cape Town.

Kar Hao Teoh's car was blasted several times after he took a wrong turn into the middle of a riot in strife-torn Nyanga near the South African city's airport.

Community worker Dumisani Qwebe revealed how he saw 40-year-old Mr Teoh, who was slumped across the passenger seat of his silver Toyota Rav 4 holiday hire car, killed by a single bullet.

Street clashes sparked by a week-long taxi drivers strike had erupted in the area and the Brit, who was born in Singapore, is understood to have been killed when he stopped the car.

Police liaison chief Mr Qwebe came across the victim's traumatised wife Sara and their two-year-old son Hugo shaking with shock near the scene.

He had driven through the riot zone as officers cordoned off the area moments after the shooting.

Mr Qwebe, Nyanga Community Police Forum secretary, told The Sun: "The doors were wide open so I could see inside. 

"Both the windscreen and driver's window were shattered by gunshots and the driver was slumped over onto the front passenger seat. 

"Multiple shots had been fired and it looked like one had hit him in the head."

A few minutes later the officer entered Nyanga Police Station where he saw the victim's familymembers – two women in their forties and a child.

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The three passengers – including Hugo – were taken to hospital for treatment for severe trauma.

Mr Qwebe said: "I could see they were all very traumatised. 

"They were still shaking and the police were trying to calm them down. They didn't look injured but there were spots of blood on their clothes."

A Cape Town police spokesman said Mr Teoh was found dead in the driver's seat with a gunshot wound to the head.

Mr Teoh, from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, worked as a trauma and orthopaedic consultant and had been awarded several international fellowships.

He was based at the NHS Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

Harley Street colleague Professor Paul Lee described the doctor as a "guiding light" in an emotional tribute.

He said: "It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Mr Kar Teoh, a respected trauma and orthopaedic consultant who left us too soon.

"He was a guiding light in our professional community, a devoted friend, and a cornerstone of many significant projects.

"For those of us privileged to call him a friend and colleague, Kar was a trustworthy and steadfast presence.

"The loss of Mr Kar Teoh leaves a void in our hearts and community.

"His professional dedication was unparalleled, but it was his personal warmth, his commitment to friendship, and his unwavering support that we will remember most fondly."

Prof Lee said a JustGiving page had been set up in Mr Teoh’s memory to help support his family – which had, within hours, raised £25,000.

Friends were invited to send pictures and share memories of the much-loved surgeon.

Two years ago, Mr Teoh won the Presidential Prize at the European Foot and Ankle Society conference in Lyon for his research.

Former neighbours of the surgeon expressed their horror upon hearing of his tragic death.

Julia Coombs, 41, said: "It's very, very sad – he was not old at all. He had a young child. It's shocking – poor family."

The mum-of-one added: "He was very friendly and down to earth – very polite and helpful."

Residents in the quiet road in Bishop's Stortford said the Teoh family moved out in June.

Dr Teoh was said to have moved in four years ago before being joined by his wife Sara, who works as a dentist.

The neighbour, who asked not to be named, added: "I only heard the news this morning, I was quite shocked – this happened right in front of his family." 

She said an older couple, believed to be either Dr Teoh's or his wife's parents, also lived at the mid-terrace townhouse, and would take the medical couple's young child to nursery. 

Lirandzu Themba, the spokeswoman for the police minister, said the doctor took a wrong turn towards Nyanga.

"In Ntlangano Crescent a number of suspects approached his vehicle, shot and killed him. No arrests yet," she said.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed it was supporting Mr Teoh's family and speaking to local authorities.

Protests erupted after a law was introduced giving the authorities the power to impound taxi driver's vehicles for driving without a licence, or registration plates.

Cops started impounding vehicles last week – sparking violence as protesters torched buses and cars and pelted the police with stones.

The office of the City of Cape Town said the riots had hit commuters leaving people stranded due to attacks on public transport.

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Cape Town city mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said: "In Cape Town, violence will never be tolerated as a negotiating tactic."

Nyanga is one of the most dangerous places in South Africa.

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