Shot ranger tells of ordeal

NELSPRUIT – Mr Andrew Desmet, section ranger of Letaba in the Kruger National Park, is a walking miracle. Yesterday (Monday), he was finally discharged from Mediclinic Nelspruit after having been shot four times with a high calibre assault rifle during an anti-rhino poaching operation on May 24.
Although he still has a long road to full recovery ahead of him, he and his physicians are hopeful that he will be able to return to duty in the bush.
Lowvelder interviewed Desmet in hospital on Friday – a day after he had undergone a fourth operation. He was obviously in a lot of pain, but that didn’t prevent his blue eyes from smiling along as he bravely spoke about his terrible ordeal.
It is suspected that he was accidentally shot by a South African National Defence Force soldier that day. He was reluctant to talk about exactly what had happened as the police investigation was still ongoing. He relayed the events since the moment he realised he was wounded.
“It was full moon and already dark. I was shot four times,” he began. Desmet was wounded from behind and could feel the flesh through his pants. He immediately realised he was in serious trouble.
He radioed for help and his colleagues tried to get an air-force helicopter to take him to hospital, but there wasn’t one available. Mr Charles Thompson, SANParks pilot, didn’t hesitate to assist and went to fetch him with the official helicopter. Desmet is allergic to bees and always carries adrenalin shots with him. He injected himself three times and managed to stay awake for the full 90 minutes it took for the helicopter to arrive.
Yes, he did think that he might not survive. “I was so worried about my family. I couldn’t let my children grow up without a dad,” he says. He and his wife, Linda, have three daugthers – Rebecca (14), Kaylin (13) and Rachel (4).
It was only when he was given morphine in the air, that he lost consciousness. He was brought to Mediclinic where he would spend five weeks in ICU – four under sedation. He spent another five weeks in a general ward.
He showed X-rays taken of his body. Three of his ribs were shattered and had to be removed; his diaphragm was ripped off on one side and one of his lungs had collapsed. One of the bullets also shattered his hip which will have to be rebuilt. He has an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon on August 21, when it will be decided upon a plan of action to fix his leg.
“The doctor said I shouldn’t have survived, but, I’m a fighter and I pulled through. It was prayer that got me through. I’ve been blessed,” he smiled.
It was unplanned, but that’s life, Andrew reasoned. “It showed me again how quickly your life can change. Your priorities change.” He admitted that he focused too much on work and neglected his family in the process.
“Work takes up a lot of our time and because of rhino poaching you work long hours and weekends. It’s not our job, it’s our passion. We take this ongoing war very personally,” he explained.
• The Andrew Desmet support group on Facebook has more than 2 600 members. Desmet would like to thank them all for their prayers and continued support.