By Gugu Mbonambi
An experienced Dusi paddler escaped unscathed after being attacked by a crocodile while paddling in the Umgeni River below the Greytown road bridge at the weekend.
Keith Ellerker, 49, was training in the river for the Hansa Powerade Dusi 2009 when the crocodile attacked his canoe.
"I was paddling below the Greytown Road bridge in the upper reaches of the Umgeni River past some undergrowth that smelt of rotting meat.
Shortly after I passed it, I felt as if there was another paddler "riding my wave". I turned to look back and saw a 2,5m crocodile attack the back of my canoe," said Ellerker.
Continues Below ↓
Fortunately he was not injured and his boat did not overturn. He managed to paddle to the other side of the river to see if he could still see the reptile, but it had disappeared.
"My boat wasn't badly damaged, but it had a few scratches on it. It would take a lot more than this to put me off training on this section of the river," he said.
Dusi spokesperson Ray De Vries assured other paddlers that they had nothing to worry about as the incident had not occurred on the Dusi route.
"This crocodile incident took place many kilometres upriver from the Dusi route and posed no threat to paddlers taking part in the Hansa Powerade Dusi 2009 which takes place on January 15, 16 and 17," said De Vries.
Local crocodile farmer Trevor Kelly said he would do whatever possible to ensure that the reptile was caught.
"A trap would be laid by this evening and I'm confident that the crocodile would be caught within a week or two," he said.
About 1 800 paddlers are expected to enter the 58th three-day event.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on December 31, 2008
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
