adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A fishing expedition turned tragic for a Masvingo man after he was attacked by a crocodile when a home-made canoe he was using capsized, police have said. Wergnar Chitambira, 23, of Mazare Village under Chief Shumba was fishing on Wednesday with his father, John Chitambira, 52, when the crocodile attacked them.
Police said they were attacked while trying to avoid a hippopotamus in Mutirikwi River.
Wergnar’s dismembered body was only discovered on the following day.
He screamed for help as the crocodile dragged him under water and disappeared with him.
Acting police spokesperson for Masvingo, Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said the incident happened on Wednesday at around 9 AM.
“I confirm receiving a report of a man who was killed by a crocodile. Wergnar’s body was found a day later with his left leg missing,” said Asst Insp Nduna.
He said his body was taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospital for postmortem.
Asst Insp Nduna said Wergnar was fishing with his father in the crocodile-infested Mutirikwi River when tragedy struck.
“The two sailed towards a strategic point where they thought they would catch more fish but on the way, they saw a hippopotamus. They attempted to avoid the mammal by changing the direction. Upon changing direction, a crocodile emerged intending to attack them. The father and son team successfully scared the animal away by hitting it with the canoe’s blade peddles but unfortunately their canoe capsized,” he said.
The two fell into the water.
They tried to reach for their canoe which was now floating.
“While swimming towards the canoe, the father, Chitambira heard Wergnar who was behind, screaming for help indicating that a crocodile had clutched his leg.
“When Chitambira reached the canoe, he directed it back to the point where he had last seen his son but the reptile had already disappeared with Wergnar under water,” he said.
Asst Insp Nduna said Chitambira went home and reported the incident to fellow villagers who in turn launched a search party.
He said the group could not find Wergnar.
“Police attended the scene but failed to see the body. The body was only discovered on Thursday with the left leg missing,” said Asst Insp Nduna.
Last month a 17-year-old juvenile was killed by crocodile while fishing in the same river.
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