A young pregnant woman watched helplessly as her game ranger husband disappeared after being attacked and dragged by a crocodile into the murky waters of the flooded Mkuze River at the weekend.
The couple were standing on the banks of the swollen river on Sunday and, on the spur of the moment, Siebert Pretorious, 29, apparently decided to go for a swim.
A crocodile attacked him and pulled him under the water in front of his wife.
Just a month away from the birth of their first child, Jennie Pretorius could only watch as her husband disappeared. Devastated, she still managed to telephone for help and within minutes a rescue team arrived. But it was too late.
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'After a while disappeared under the water and did not appear again' The couple worked for Mkuze Falls Game Reserve and Jennie Pretorius was part of the marketing team.
Siebert Pretorius was a game ranger who had received many awards and accolades.
They were on holiday when they went down to view the flooded river after 80mm of rain had fallen on Saturday.
According to the manager, Nicholas van der Merwe, the couple stopped about 50m from the river and walked to the edge.
"It was an extremely hot day, about 39°, and Siebert took a swim in the river but after a while disappeared under the water and did not appear again."
"Jennie contacted us at the lodge and a search party, with a helicopter, rushed to the scene and started a search. His body was recovered about an hour later and it was clear that a crocodile had attacked him," said Van der Merwe.
He said that Pretorius had started working at the game reserve three years ago.
Jennie Pretorius is expecting their first child next month and had just started her maternity leave on January 21.
He joined his wife on leave and was due to be back at work on Wednesday.
Jennie Pretorius was admitted to Richards Bay Hospital on Tuesday. Her condition was described as stable.
"We are terribly shocked about this incident and can find no words to express the way we feel for his wife, Jennie, and his family. It is a tragic loss for all of us," said Van der Merwe.
Police at Magudu confirmed the incident and said that they were investigating.
KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife spokesperson Jeff Gaisford said it was most unfortunate. "Our sympathies go to the family of the victim, but a tragedy like this underscores the dangers of swimming in rivers in Zululand," Gaisford said.
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This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on January 28, 2004
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