A young mum who was three months pregnant was stabbed to death in her bed during a romantic break at a luxury South African resort.
Karen Turner, 31, was killed and her husband Matthew, 33, was knifed several times in the horror attack yesterday as their toddler son Hayden slept nearby.
Two armed men burst into their self-contained chalet overlooking a beach and attacked the couple at around 3am.
They were staying at the Hluleka Nature Reserve on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.
The stabbing happened just before Prince Harry is due to fly into South Africa with his wife Meghan and son Archie.
Matthew was taken to hospital for surgery but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, while their 23 – month-old son Hayden was unharmed.
Police said they have launched an investigation and identified one of two suspects.
Karen’s older brother Ian Crouch told News 24: ‘Matthew’s recollection was that he was woken up by being stabbed in the stomach by a guy on his side of the bed and there was another chap stabbing my sister.
‘He said he managed to sort of grab the guy and there was a tussle down the stairs.’
Mr Crouch said his brave brother-in-law managed to chase off the attackers.
Karen, a teacher, had celebrated her 31 st birthday a day before she was brutally killed.
The couple have a farm in Underberg in South Africa and have been married since July 2017.
Matthew’s friend, Darryl Louch said on Facebook: ‘I have such a heavy heart today.
‘Matthew Turner my heart bleeds for you mate.
‘You have risen above challenges in the past, but nothing you have ever endured will make this one any easier.’
Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency CEO Vuyani Dayimani, which manages the resort where the attack happened, said: ‘The two guests were booked in from Monday to Thursday and police were called after a stabbing incident.
‘The police have confirmed one visitor passed away and another is in hospital.
‘As an agency who manage the reserve we are shocked that his taken place in one of our flagship coastal reserves as the safety and security of our guests is our key priority.’
South Africa has been described as Prince Harry’s ‘favorite place in the world’ but crime is said to be rising in the country with more than 21, 000 murders and 45, 000 rapes carried out last year.
The army is currently deployed on the streets in townships on the outskirts of Cape Town.
Additional reporting by Jamie Pyatt
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