Mum reports alleged attempted abduction at busy Elizabeth Park

While casually walking along a busy road in the northern suburbs, a young girl came face-to-face with terror as a man allegedly tried to abduct her.

A terrified mother has reported the abduction attempt of her young teen daughter, who she says had to fight for her life to avoid being snatched by a stranger while walking alongside a notorious park.

Police are now investigating what they have described as an “assault”, which happened to the girl while she was walking along Ifould Rd adjacent to Fremont Park on Wednesday afternoon at around 2.30pm.

Taking to social media in a post that has now been widely shared and aimed at warning parents across the northern suburbs, Jaimie Marks recounted her daughter’s experience.

She said the attempted abduction happened on Ifould Rd at Elizabeth Park, which runs alongside Fremont Park.

“He grabbed her arm, she pulled away, hit him and got loose,” she said.

Fremont Park at Elizabeth Park. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“He then grabbed hold of her bad (then) she punched him again, got away and ran.

“She is a bit shaken up, but is doing OK.”

Ms Marks described the man she says tried to snatch her daughter.

“He has grey hair, he was wearing a button up shirt that was undone with no undershirt and shorts,” she said.

Ms Marks said she immediately went to the police station to file a report.

A police spokeswoman said police had started an investigation into the attempted abduction.

The spokeswoman said Ms Marks’s daughter was “approached by an unknown man” before the nightmare unfolded.

“The girl reported that as the man walked past, he grabbed her arm and tried to pull her towards him,” she said.

“The girl fought the man off and ran away.”

Ifould Rd where Fremont Park starts. Picture: Google

The alleged predator has been described as of caucasian appearance, about 40-years-old, 165cm tall with grey short hair and a chubby build and who was wearing an open blue and green button up shirt, shorts and black thongs.

The police spokeswoman said Northern District police were calling on anyone who saw a person fitting his description to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The park has developed a reputation following several crimes being reported in the immediate area.

Late last year a group of volunteers who were serving meals to less fortunate members of the community were brutally attacked.

Three years earlier a woman was bashed and mugged as she ran along a path within the park.

Back in 2009, the park was the epicentre of an investigation into a suspicious death after a man was found dead at the park by a group of children.

City of Playford mayor Glenn Docherty said the council, in which the park sits, was concerned by the incident.

Mr Docherty was asked what safety measures were in place at the park, and whether the council would review safety measures at the park.

“The City of Playford works with SA Police and other stakeholders as part of the regular Community Safety Committee, to raise and discuss matters relating to the safety of the community,” he responded.