Durban -
Being wounded by a startled white rhino has given intrepid bush explorer Sue Cardwell a new lease of life.
Cardwell, 57, of uMhlanga Rocks was part of a party of eight hikers staying at the Munyawaneni Bush Camp at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi game Reserve on Saturday when the group decided to go on a guided bush walk accompanied by a field ranger.
“We walked to the Mnqabathi View Point area in single file. The armed field ranger walked in front of us,” she said.
She said that they saw a movement in the bush to their right and “suddenly out came this rhino.
He wasn’t attacking us or charging; he just seemed like he was anxious to get away from us”.
She said the group of hikers scattered as fast as they could to get out of the way of the rhino.
Cardwell, who had been at the back of the line, also tried to get out of the animal’s way.
“I screamed and was shocked at how fast and silently he moved.
“He came towards me with great speed and his horn hooked my left leg as I tried to avoid him,” she said.
“I was tossed up into the air and fell hard on the ground.
“Even at that moment, I still felt his urgency to get to safety and that I needed to get out of his way,” she said.
Although Cardwell describes herself as “absolutely fine”, she dislocated her right elbow and sustained soft tissue damage to her left leg.
“It’s a miracle it was not worse. That is a powerful animal. It didn’t get a muscle, or nerve, or my femoral artery,” she said.
She said that after the incident she saw the rhino run away.
“I was lucky that there were two doctors in my walking party. They checked me out, and bound my wounds with a sarong from another member of our party.”
She said that the ranger called for help and alerted the authorities.
“I was taken in the game vehicle to the iMfolozi entrance where a KZN ambulance was waiting for me.”
She added: “I know that people don’t think very highly of government services but their care was phenomenal. I felt safe.”
She said she had been out for game walks “many times” but had not had a bad experience before.
“I would go back but I’m not sure if I would walk in the bush again. We’ll see what happens.”
She said that she did not want the incident to be “bad publicity” for the park or the rhino.
“Look he’s a wild animal. He did not mean to hurt me.”
‘Lovely scar’
She said that perhaps on future walks, perhaps two rangers should be included.
“I should be dead. Instead I’ve been given a second life.
“I’m a lucky survivor, with many more lives to experience. At least I leave with a lovely scar,” she laughed.
She is recovering in the Bay Hospital in Richards Bay.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokes-man, Musa Mntambo, said that after the ranger had seen the white male rhino coming from the group’s right side, he had tried to distract the animal away from the group.
This had led to the rhino running away and past Cardwell.
“That’s when she got injured.”
Mntambo said that when one ventured into the bush, one needed to expect anything to happen.
“You’re in the house of the rhino and you must be careful.
“Of course, we hope that (Mrs Cardwell) makes a full recovery.”
He said animals were only examined more closely if there was a pattern of attacking human beings.
This, he said, was not the case here.
- Daily News