Yesterday Eddie Bauer received word that the South African whitewater guide, Hendri Coetzee, who was leading First Ascent Kayakers Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was pulled from his kayak on the Lukuga River by a crocodile and is presumed dead. .css-o3g03s{color:black;}Published17:14,19 July 2022 BST.css-1aaqh7x{color:#666666;}@media (min-width:1024px){.css-1aaqh7x{color:#666666;}}| Last updated17:14,19 July 2022 BST, Featured Image Credit: National Geographic. "He Tried To Get Away": Swimmer Attacked By Alligator In - YouTube We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I think we both were just in complete shock and disbelief, and absolutely horrified at what had just happened.". SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Huge Alligator Caught on Camera Climbing Over Fence at Florida Navy Base, Alligator Kills Florida Woman's 100 Pound Dog: He Was like 'Help Me Mama', Florida Man Pries Open Alligator's Mouth After it Attacked His Pet Labrador, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. "But at the same time we are wildly proud of our sons for their courage and determination to be explorers in a time when most people think terrestrial, social, and environmental exploration is over. Is It Safe To Kayak Around Alligators? Do Alligators Attack People In . Though they knew Coetzee's giant reputation in the tiny world of extreme kayaking, and spent months planning their expedition together, Korbulic and Stookesberry didn't meet Coetzee until they flew into Entebbe, Uganda, in October. Weve had a terrible accident here. Most of the time, the alligators you pass by want nothing to do with you. CNN A kayaker exploring a section of a North Carolina river found more than he expected when an alligator slammed into his boat. Miracle escape of North Carolina man attacked by ALLIGATOR while kayaking Peter Joyce was kayacking down the Waccamaw River in North Carolina Was wearing camera on his chest and so captured. ABUJA, Nigeria Dec. 10, 2010— -- A pair of American kayakers who escaped a crocodile attack that killed their famed guide are "devastated" by the death of Hendrik Coetzee. We received the team's last SPOT messenger transmission (indicating that everything was OK) on December 5, three days ago. On his blog "The Great White Explorer" Coetzee wrote about his experiences going to these remote places. They submerge themselves completely in the water, with only their snout resurfacing periodically for air, which makes them difficult to spot. "Basically, when I made out the head of the gator towards the front end of the kayak it was kind of just a state of shock. Terrified kayaker chased by 360 pound MONSTER alligator in Georgia .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { A kayaker paddling down a North Carolina river was flipped over and plunged into the water after an alligator rammed into him at high speed. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In February of 2020, an alligator left two kayakers stranded when it flipped their inflatable boat on the Econlockhatchee River in Florida - fortunately, no one was killed or injured. He was paddling. By the time they got to the Lukuga, they were comfortable with their skills. Harry Howard For Mailonline However, the statistics on alligator attacks on kayakers are extremely low, and comparable to shark attacks on surfers. Inflatable kayaks are also much lighter than hard-shelled boats, and therefore easier to flip. The reptile was taken to a processor where it would be used for meat. And they faced 200 miles of flat water, winding through rolling elephant grass-covered hills, before their final takeout. Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic were exploring a series of rivers through central Africa before their friend and guide, Hendri Coetzee, got snatched by the apex predator. That said, these attacks can happen, as one kayaker on North Carolinas Waccamaw River discovered in 2020 fortunately, he escaped without injury. Kayaker shares more about his close encounter with an alligator on N.C. river. The state of Florida, where most attacks and deaths occur, began keeping records of alligator attacks in 1948. Rescue Dog Showered with Love After Shelter Jokingly Begs 'Someone Adopt This Hot Mess', Body of 6-Year-Old Boy Found in Mass. Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic watched in horror as guide was killed. Kayakers Caught Moment Their Friend Was Ambushed And Killed - YouTube We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Coetzee was in the center, Stookesberry a little in front on the left, and Korbulic a little behind on the right. Licensed nuisance alligator agent-trappers remove about 450 alligators in the state every year. Kayakers caught moment their friend was ambushed and killed by 'man eater' crocodile on camera Influencer dropped by brand after confessing she killed two cats as a child Scientologists Caught On Camera Harassing And Following Ex-Member Man who was official 'Nazi Hunter' caught over 250 SS guards Lost kayaker's washed-up phone helped save him from alligator-infested So, maintaining your distance will lower any chance of an encounter. Ben said on a phone call: "We've had a terrible accident here, Hendri, Hendri just got taken by a crocodile. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A college student attacked and killed by an 11-foot alligator while swimming in a state park and probably never knew what hit him, state wildlife officials said Tuesday. She filmed the surprising encounter and was heard telling her husband, 'Joe, they're fighting! Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic watched in horror as guide was killed. The 71 year old . "About three feet from the kayak I made out the head of the gator and that was it, I had no time to react. Horrifying moment man in kayak is attacked by alligator in Florida Coetzee was gone, hauled beneath the green water never to be seen again. Coetzee's body has never been found and hes presumed dead. A kayaker in North Carolina got more than he bargained for while exploring a section of the Waccamaw River over the weekend when an alligator charged at him. What are the risks to canoeists and kayakers from alligators? Both Chris and Ben later spoke on NBC's Today show that they will never again paddle the Lukuga River, out of respect for Hendri. Its safe to assume that if you see young alligators, their mother will be close by to protect them, and a female alligator is aggressive when protecting her nest or young. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. "I thought I heard a fish jump to my left turned out not to be a fish," Joyce told WECT. (5 Steps). If you should encounter an alligator, try to stay calm and keep your distance. It's mating season and that gator was very territorial. Terrifying 15 FOOT alligator is killed after devouring livestock; Fishing. Amerson said that he was able to enlist his friend Trey Durant, who is licensed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to trap the animals. "It couldve been a lot worse.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Alligators are found all over the state and other southeastern parts of the US. So on a hot, sunny Sunday in Sarasota County, Florida, the 25-year-old Heim proceeded to the Myakka River on a spot about 45 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. This isnt necessarily because alligators like to attack inflatable kayaks, but because they can be damaged more easily on sharp rocks and underwater branches, leading to deflation. The duo went out in a kayak on Father's Day and. Trending News (in 8 Steps)Continue, Read More Can One Person Use A Two-Person Kayak?Continue, Read More How To Make A Kayak More Stable?Continue, Read More How Can You Stay Safe When Kayaking?Continue. "Every year it's a certain amount of tags DNR gives out. Recognising that they were unable to help, the two Americans quickly paddled downstream to a village where residents told them the croc was likely 15 feet long and two tonnes in weight. The poor mutt was knocked into the water by the predator but luckily Thomas managed to haul it back into the kayak before furiously paddling away. Back in 2010, Americans Chris Korbulic and Ben Stookesberry were kayaking down the Congos Lukuga River with Hendri Coetzee when he was ripped from his boat by a 15 foot croc, never to be seen again. 15:18 BST 16 Jul 2020. For two days Coetzee took them down the Murchison Falls section of the White Nile. Pete Joyce, a firefighter and paramedic, said he was. In a dispatch sent by Stookesberry to Outside magazine on Nov. 19, the kayaker wrote, " T]here is a crocodile at the river's mouth named Gustav that is an ancient, well-fed man eater. He said:'I thought I heard a fish jump to my leftturned out not to be a fish. Thomas, who had not long moved to the sunshine state when the attack occurred said it would make him reconsider hitting the water again. "I have a different appreciation of the animal," he said. Alligator that menaced a Florida paddleboarder is killed | WUSF Public Footage of the moment Coetzee was attacked was also included, however, the exact moment the crocodile attacked is not shown. 1:01 Kayaker has a close encounter with an alligator in North Carolina WATCH: A close encounter between an alligator and a kayaker who is lucky to be alive was caught on camera near Wilmington, N . Alligator Rams Kayaker Into Water in North Carolina River - People An experienced kayaker, Joyce was able to grab onto a nearby tree to right his boat and eventually paddle away from the reptile. You dont want to end up in the water with an alligator, if you can help it. Friend of S.C. Woman Killed by Alligator Says Victim Wanted to Touch, Take Pictures of Animal, 'I Can't See Her!' Get a discount on NordVPN. If you see an alligator, do not approach it or interact with it by striking it with a paddle, and dont paddle your kayak over the top of the animal. He said his encounter has made him more respectful of the creatures' power. They had just finished more than 30 miles of whitewater. They had been kayaking in a tight-knit group so as to avoid hippo and croc attacks and were just four or five feet apart when the animal struck. [T]here is a crocodile at the river's mouth named Gustav that is an ancient, well-fed man eater. There are plenty of beautiful kayaking destinations in the U.S. where there are no alligators. (Kayak Speeds)Continue, Read More How To Plan For A Long Distance Kayaking Trip? However, if an alligator gets fed by humans, it will .