Hippo attack kills bathing man

2005-09-06 18:15

Phalaborwa - A hippo killed a man who was forced to wash in a river on Monday, apparently because the water supply to his village had been reduced to a trickle.

Thomas Ngobeni, 47, was bathing in a river in Lulekani near Phalaborwa in Limpopo when the animal attacked him shortly after midday.

Superintendent Moatshe Ngoepe of Mopani police said on Tuesday: "A huge hippo suddenly appeared from the water and clamped its jaws around Ngobeni's right leg."

Ngobeni shouted for help and loudly clapped his hands, drawing the attention of a passer-by.

"Amazingly, the hippo let go of the victim, possibly because of the noise and the appearance of the second man," said Ngoepe.

The passer-by helped Ngobeni out the water and carried him to a nearby road where he arranged for an ambulance to fetch him.

But, by the time paramedics arrived, the man was dead.

Council owes R87m for water

Residents have blamed BaPhalaborwa municipality for Ngobeni's death, saying that if there had been running water, he would not have to have bathed in the river.

"I think the man was forced to bath in the river because of shortage of water, because that's what we do when there is no water here," said Vende Mashele.

The water supply in the BaPhalaborwa municipal area has been reduced to a trickle because the council owes more than R87m to the local water board.

The council's in a Catch-22 situation, however, because it has struggled to collect payment from its residents.

Police have cautioned residents against hippos.

Although vegetarian, hippos are considered to be Africa's most-dangerous large game, and are reputed to kill more people every year than predators like lions or crocodiles.

Conservationists explain that hippo are extremely territorial, and protective of their young.

They also are short-sighted, and instinctively use their large jaws to chomp perceived threats.

- African Eye