A PHARMACIST has described the moment he ran for his life after he was attacked by a knife-wielding man during a violent robbery at Port MacDonnell on Thursday.
Business owner and pharmacist Amir Hanna was working at the Meylin Street store when the incident unfolded at around 5.40pm.
Mount Gambier man Daniel Whiteman – who pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Friday – entered the store armed with a knife and started demanding cash from Mr Hanna.
“He came in with a knife and he wanted me to empty the money in the safe into his black plastic bag, which I did,” Amir said.
“He then asked me to open the till and he took the cash inside.”
After complying with the offender’s initial demands, what Mr Hanna was asked to do next took him by surprise.
“He wanted to tie my hands behind my back, which I initially resisted, but he was waving the knife so I thought it was best to let him do it,” he said.
With Mr Hanna restrained and defenceless, Whiteman grabbed the office printer and assaulted him.
“I thought he wanted to steal it but then he dropped the printer on my head,” he said.
Mr Hanna required stitches above his left eye and visible bruising remained yesterday.
The businessman said after the initial attack, his survival instincts kicked-in and he realised he had to escape.
“When you do what you are told to do you think they will leave you safe so I did not expect it,” he said.
“I freaked out and ran towards the door but he had locked it, so I just pulled it hard and it broke, which allowed me to escape.”
Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Phil Hoff said Mr Hanna ‘s brave response to the situation was highly commendable.
“Amir did everything that we would encourage people to do – be compliant and take the sting out of the situation,” Supt Hoff said.
“He did all of that and then there was an episode that was not provoked at all.”
Supt Hoff said Mr Hanna ‘s decision to escape was the best course of action at that point.
“A piece of office equipment was thrown down on his head and that could have resulted in a serious injury or even a fatality,” Supt Hoff said.
“Amir then understood that he then had to protect his own life and look to get away and obviously when your life is threatened, you do need to find a way of escaping.
“I congratulate him for his presence of mind to do everything logically in the way that he did.”
Mr Hanna said his own experience and training allowed him to appropriately react to the situation.
“We mentally prepare knowing things like this could happen because we hold a variety of stuff here that people could want at any time,” he said.
Whiteman was arrested by police around 20 minutes after the incident when he was stopped on Glenelg River Road following help from members of the local community.
The cash and prescription drugs stolen from the chemist were recovered inside the vehicle.
He pleaded guilty to the offending in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Friday and will be sentenced in the district court in March.
In a sign of Mr Hanna ‘s courage, he is already back at work serving the Port MacDonnell community.
“We have a responsibilities here so I was back to work straight away and I feel alright now,” he said.
