CAPE TOWN - Scarlett Cottle’s love for her small pink bicycle made her fight death a little bit longer as her loved ones kept her conscious by reminding her that she needed to take more riding lessons.
But the stray bullets that hit her head and neck proved too great a battle to overcome, as the four-year-old died at the Retreat day hospital.
Scarlett was wounded inside her Ottery home at about 6.50pm on Wednesday.
A 48-year-old man who was also hit in the same shooting is receiving treatment at a hospital.
Three gunmen are alleged to have opened fire in Woodgate Court and fled the scene.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said the shooting might be linked to gang warfare and rivalry.
“Three suspects fled the scene and are being sought. It is believed that rival gangs shot at each other and that the girl was caught in the crossfire.”
When the Cape Times visited the Cottle home on Thursday, a bloody mattress was facing the door.
Scarlett’s mother Monique Cottle, 25, said two bullets hit her child’s head, and one in the neck.
“I had just woken up from a nap when she wanted me to go buy something at the shop which is not far from here.
“While I was at the shop the gunshots went off.
“At first I didn’t realise that the shooting was happening near my house until I saw people screaming and running from that direction.
“I found her helplessly lying in the bed and blood everywhere.
“She could only respond to my voice by moving her hands.
“By that time my partner was returning from work and we decided not to move her but to wait for the ambulance.
“We were advised to keep talking to her so that she stayed awake.
“Two weeks ago we bought her a bicycle which she loved dearly, so we kept on telling her to stay awake because she still needs to ride it.
“She was still learning how to ride the bicycle,” Cottle said.
Cottle said by the time the ambulance arrived, Scarlett was critical and they were informed that the chances of her survival were slim.
“A few minutes after we arrived at the hospital the doctors told us there was nothing they could do.
“On Wednesday morning I begged the group of men who sit by our Wendy house not to sit by it because of the shootings that have been ongoing, because they will attract the gangs to come here,” she said.
The mother’s 31-year-old partner Lindsay Cottle who struggled to keep her emotions, recalled how she put Scarlett to sleep in the afternoon before she went to work by reading her a book.
“She was a bubbly, intelligent child who loved reading. She was friends with young and old people because of her personality.
“She always wanted a bicycle and was happy when we eventually did get her one.
“I even had to buy her training shoes so that she could be comfortable when she rides.”
The Cottle’s landlord Benita Van Reenen, who has been staying with the couple for about three years, said she thought only the 48-year-old man was shot until a frantic knock at the door.
“A few minutes after the gunshots went off I went to check outside and saw people in the street around the man who was also shot.
“But I didn’t know Scarlett was also shot until Monique came to ask for help. We are all shocked and heartbroken. A life taken so abruptly. We are tired of the shootings, this has been ongoing everyday. Where will we be safe with our families?”
Anyone with information can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 086 0010 111 or SMS Crime Line at 32211.
Cape Times