Lyle Europa, a freelance graphic designer, was hijacked and shot through his chest but he has a message for his hijackers that will move you!
Mitchells Plain, South Africa (02 September 2020) – Lyle Europa has left many South Africans speechless after he recorded a video for his hijackers, offering them real forgiveness and the hopes to one day meet and discuss their lives and change.
Lyle was hijacked and shot on the 16th of August 2020. He was driving in his car when two men held him up at gunpoint. The man shot him in the process of taking his car, the bullet went through his chest, missing his heart, vital arteries and causing the least amount of damage imaginable.
It is his journey with God that has brought Lyle to a place of forgiveness so quickly. He shared his story, explaining that he too was in a bad place once. Addicted to heroin, living on the streets and involved in all crime linked to those things, he knows the power they hold over a person.
Lyle’s journey was not easy but he found his path and God along the way and turned his life around. He worked hard to get clean and stay clean. Building his life back up took great discipline and hard work. Lyle managed to buy his car and start his small business as a freelance graphic designer.
With the shooting, his life changed. His laptop, the only source of income was in the car when the hijackers took it. One Good Samaritan, a stranger to Lyle, decided to launch a crowdfund on BackaBuddy to help him recover what was lost.
Ronelle Damant was deeply moved by his story and by his compassion for the hijackers. She hopes to use the crowdfund to replace his car and his laptop so he can start working again.
You can support Lyle here and watch his moving story below.