Cops hunt wounded ‘poacher'

Police have launched a manhunt for a wounded suspected Rhino poacher, who escaped while under police guard despite being shackled to a bed at Frere Hospital in East London yesterday.

He used a hacksaw to break free.

The 35-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm during a heavy exchange of gunfire inside the 23ha Double Drift Game Reserve near Grahamstown.

A heavy calibre hunting rifle was recovered from the suspect. The suspect was shot last week and taken to Victoria Hospital in Alice after sustaining a broken leg and a bullet wound to the upper body.

Eastern Cape provincial police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said it was not clear how the suspect, who was shackled to his bed with leg irons broke loose and disappeared without a trace.

“Police are busy with efforts of tracking the suspect and re-arresting him,” he said.

“ Members of the public are warned to alert the nearest police whenever they see the suspect in their vicinity,” Tonjeni said.

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