CARJACKERS ROB BRIT RUGBY FANS

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 21, 2009 | by KAREN ROCKETT

FOUR rugby fans visiting South Africa for the British Lions tour have told of their terrifying ordeal at being carjacked and beaten up at gunpoint.

The four men - two sets of brothers - were attacked outside their hotel soon after landing in Johannesburg.

Michael and Peter Harriott and Simon and John Murphy - all in their fifties, from Sevenoaks and Bickley in Kent - were ambushed by four men in a black Mercedes, after being followed from the airport.

Former SAS soldier Michael, 57, said yesterday: "Four men with guns ordered us out of the car and told us to lie on the floor and remove our wallets and watches." The four were then badly beaten up. Michael added: "I tried to grab one of the attackers' guns but I got punched in the nose."

The attackers fled in the Merc and the tourists' hire car - with all their luggage. But the fans still plan to continue with their holiday.

South Africa has supposedly tightened security for the Lions tour and the Fifa Confederations Cup. But the Egypt team's hotel was broken into. The Lions lost 26-21 yesterday.

BRITISH LIONS: Pages 70&71