Crocodile kills golfer in Kruger National Park
Jacques van der Sandt was killed by a crocodile after he reportedly went for a swim with a friend in Lake Panic on the Skukuza Golf Course.
Kruger National Park officials were unable to confirm this, but say swimming is not allowed in any of its dams or rivers.
Freek Venter, general manager at the Kruger National Park, says: “Our rangers were called in at 22:00 and after two hours found the crocodile at the other end of the dam with the man still in its mouth. The rangers shot the crocodile to retrieve the man’s body.”
An internal and police investigation is now underway.
Crocodiles are extremely opportunistic, Venter maintains.
“They have just come out of hibernation. They usually go right through winter without eating anything. The animal was doing what naturally comes to them, which hunting for food, and unfortunately a life was lost in the process.”
A man was last injured by a crocodile in the Kruger National Park 15 years ago, he says.
The 3.9m crocodile attacked and dragged the victim under water in Lake Panic in the Kruger National Park on Wednesday night.
Regional ranger Don English rescued the victim’s body from the crocodile’s jaws.
Dr Danny Govender about to perform a post-mortem.
Photos: SanParks