KNP staff member’s son killed by a crocodile
Kruger National Park (KNP) can confirm that a crocodile killed a staff member’s son Jacques van der Sandt, aged 29 last night December 3 at the Skukuza Golf Course, situated adjacent to the Staff Village.
Jacques is the son off Schalk (retired) and staff member Lorretha van der Sandt; the couple has been working in the Park since 1992.
According to the Regional Ranger, Don English, he got a call at around 22:00 that an individual had been grabbed by a crocodile at the Lake Panic Dam in the Golf Course area.
It is understood that a group of youngsters were hanging around after a game of golf when the incident happened.
Apparently the crocodile surprised the group and snatched the victim then disappeared under water. Rangers were alerted and after searching the dam for over two hours, spotted and put down the animal.
Fortunately the victim’s body was retrieved without any mutilation except the animal’s teeth marks at the back and the front.
“It is an unfortunate incident where a promising life was cut short; our condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim. Investigations are on-going to establish the exact circumstances as it was an unnatural death. It is now an SAPS matter and SANParks will conclude its own internal investigation”, said Dr Freek Venter, KNP’s General Manager: Conservation Management.
According to Dr Danny Govender, SANParks’ Disease Ecologist, “these animals are not in good condition as they have just come out of hibernation. The animal was doing what naturally comes to them; hunting for food and unfortunately a life was lost in the process”.
