Attacked woman told to get closer to rhino
2013-01-15 08:52
Johannesburg - A young West Rand student who was attacked by a rhino at the weekend was reportedly advised by the game park owner to move closer to the animals to pose for pictures.
This happened just moments before she was impaled and seriously injured, Beeld reported on Tuesday.
Chantal Beyer, 24, who is in the intensive care unit of the Krugersdorp Private Clinic, told her uncle, Thom Peeters, that game park owner Alex Richter had snapped pictures of her just seconds before the accident, and that he had suggested she should "stand just a little bit closer".
Peeters said the rhino's horn had penetrated Beyers' chest from behind, on the right, almost exiting through her shoulder and resulting in a collapsed lung and broken ribs.
Beyer, a BCom student, was still in ICU but was said to be in a stable condition.
She was on a game drive with nine other people at the Aloe Ridge hotel and nature reserve in Muldersdrift when Richter stopped near two rhino.
He reportedly used mieliepap to coax the rhino towards them, then told his guests they could get out of the car to take pictures, as it was completely safe but some of the visitors had decided to remain in the vehicle.
“There were quite a lot of young people on the vehicle and they probably felt they could trust Richter, who was an adult,” said Peeters.
When Beeld visited Aloe Ridge on Monday, Richter declined to comment, then got into his car and drove away.
- SAPA
