A PREGNANT young woman was hacked to death in her bed yesterday during a family break at a luxury South African holiday resort.

Karen Turner, 31, who was three months pregnant, was sleeping with her husband Matthew, 33, and their toddler son Hayden when they were attacked at about 3am on Tuesday.

5 Karen Turner, 31, was hacked to death while sleeping beside her husband Matthew in a hotel in South Africa Credit: Facebook

5 The couple's infant was unharmed

5 Matthew was stabbed repeatedly but survived while pregnant Karen died at the scene Credit: Facebook

Matthew was stabbed repeatedly as he lay beside his wife at the Hluleka Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape province of the country.

Two men armed with knives sneaked into their self-contained lodge overlooking the beach.

It is believed school teacher Karen, from Underberg, about three hours west of Durban, died almost instantly in a hail of knife blows while Matthew managed to fight back.

Karen’s unborn child was killed in the frenzied attack. Her 23-month-old son Hayden survived and was uninjured.

It is unclear what the motive was for the horrific murder.

The vicious attack comes just days before Prince Harry is due to fly into South Africa with his wife Meghan and son Archie.

They are taking their baby son on a tour to visit Harry’s “favourite place in the world” but where crime is spiralling out of control with over 21,000 murders and 45,000 rapes carried out last year.



SENSELESS MURDER

The army is currently deployed on the streets in townships on the outskirts of Cape Town to try and stop the bloodshed.

Cops say one suspect is being hunting and his arrest is imminent. The second attacker has yet to be identified.

Karen’s older brother Ian Crouch told News24 that he had spoken to his brother-in-law when he came out of life saving surgery after being airlifted to Pietermaritzburg Hospital.

He told News24: “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.

5 Karen Turner was three months' pregnant Credit: Facebook

5 The family was attacked Tuesday by two men who burst into their hotel room at the Hluleka Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape province

“He said he managed to sort of grab the guy and there was a tussle down the stairs.”

Mr Crouch drove to the scene which he described as a “blood bath” and said the balcony door was open and the windows on latches as it was a hot night and there was no forced entry.

He confirmed it appeared nothing had been stolen and their mobiles were by their bed.

Timber merchant Mr Crouch also said his sister, who was a primary school teacher, was about three months pregnant and died a day after celebrating her 31st birthday.

The couple had just bought a home together in Underberg on the farm that Matthew managed.

They married in July 2017 and Hayden was born four months later.

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Friends who were on holiday with them were woken by the sounds of a struggle and Hayden screaming.

Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency CEO Vuyani Dayimani 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”.

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