BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A Binga fisherman was seriously injured after he was attacked by crocodile when he jumped into river while escaping from a herd of elephants that had encircled him.
Windas Sianene from Saba village is reportedly battling for his life at Mpilo Hospital following the vicious attack by the reptile at Mlibizi River.
Charles Muzamba, the councillor for Saba, said Sianene was fishing with colleagues when he suddenly realised that he had was surrounded by menacing elephants.
The fisherman jumped into the river, only to land on the jaws of a crocodile.
“It happened around 7AM when he was in the company of three other villagers whom he was fishing with,”Muzamba said.
“The witnesses told me that as they were doing the fishing, a herd of elephants approached from two sides and seeing that they were in danger, he decided to throw himself into the river intending to swim to the other side and that’s when the crocodile attacked him before he could swim out.”
Muzamba said Sianene was rescued by other fishing, who fought off the crocodile.
“They fought with the crocodile and he kept getting bruised and injured,” Muzamba said.
“He lost too much blood and he was injured with his left legs severely crushed.
“The area is known for human-wildlife conflict and people get trapped when elephants visit the area because on the other side there is a huge mountain, which is not easy to climb in an emergency and this is why he opted to seek refuge in the river.”
Sianene’s graphic pictures showing the extent of his injuries have been circulating on social media.
Muzamba said earlier this week, a Forestry Commission employee was attacked by a crocodile on the same river.
“That was even more critical and he was bruised all over his body by the crocodile as he was fishing.
“We haven’t received an update about his condition and we don’t know the hospital where he was taken to, but most of his body parts were crushed after the rescue.”
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda was not answering his mobile phone when efforts were made to get a comment on the two incidents.