Paralympic and Olympic hero Oscar Pistorius has allegedly shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.(Breaking News)

A body was discovered at the athlete’s home in the Silver Woods country estate in eastern Pretoria, South African police said.

A journalist in South Africa has told that Pistorius’ girlfriend was allegedly shot as she woke him, trying to surprise him on Valentine’s Day.

Pistorius was arrested on Thursday morning following the shooting and is expected in court later.

The 26-year-old is alleged to have shot his 30-year-old model girlfriend from Port Elizabeth in the head and upper body.

Paramedics were called to his home between 4am and 5am local time by a third person at the house.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and a 9mm pistol was recovered from the scene. They have launched a murder investigation.

“The deceased was shot four times and died on the scene. It is believed that she was the girlfriend of the accused,” said police spokesman Katlego Mogale.

Pistorius and Miss Steenkamp are believed to have been seeing each other since November.

South African journalist Kalay Maistry told: “It is alleged that he thought his girlfriend, who’d come in to try to surprise him for Valentines Day, was an intruder. It’s alleged that he shot her at least twice in the arm and head.

“I think what this actually highlights is the level of fear ordinary South Africans have.

“This is a man who has gone to bed, it’s an innocent surprise from a girlfriend … and the moment he thinks someone is trying to break in he grabs his gun.

“This has come as a complete surprise for a man who’s considered a national hero,” she added.

Miss Steenkamp, a top South African model and law graduate, was active on Twitter just 14 hours ago.

She said: “What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? #getexcited #ValentinesDay”

In response to someone else’s plans, she said: “That sounds amazing! Wow that’s what it’s all about! It should be a day of love for everyone 🙂 may it be blessed!”

Her publicist Sarit Tomlinson said the family was “shocked” and “devastated” by the news.

She described Miss Steenkamp as “the sweetest human being” and “a talented and bright young girl”, adding that the couple had a “healthy, fabulous relationship”.

Reporting from South Africa,  Emma Hurd, said: “It does appear that this was a tragedy – a Valentine’s Day surprise which went horrifically wrong.”

The Johannesburg-born athlete, known as the “Blade Runner”, made history in 2012 when he became the first amputee to compete in the Olympics.

He won gold in the 4x400m relay at the Paralympic Games.

The athlete had both legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old, because of a congenital condition, and runs on carbon fibre blades.

Last year Time Magazine named him as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.

Silver Woods, situated in the country’s capital, is understood to be a high security gated complex with electrified walls, a guarded entrance and regular patrols.

South Africa has some of the world’s highest rates of violent crime with an average of nearly 50 people murdered each day.

Some home-owners carry weapons to defend themselves against intruders. According to statistics, nearly 13 in every 100 people in the country own a gun, and it is estimated there are almost six million civilian firearms.

Runner’s World magazine editor Mike Finch, speaking from South Africa, told : “If anybody can overcome this sort of thing it’s probably Oscar.

“He’s had to deal with a lot in his life. He had a mother that died when he was very young, he obviously has his disability, but yet he’s been amazing from a South African perspective as an ambassador.

“There is a certain school of people that don’t particularly like him, but I think today everybody has kind of rallied round him.”

South Africa’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said the organisation was in no position to comment, “other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned”.

UN figures show that in South Africa, just over 17 people are killed by gun crime per 100,000 people.

The highest gun death rate in the world is in Honduras with 68 deaths per 100,000. In the USA, the figure stands at 2.97 deaths, while in the UK it is 0.1.

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