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Daniel Nemukuyu and Petros Zivengwa
How do you deal with the trauma of surviving a crocodile attack? This is a question that very few people can answer. In Job, God asks the man the Biblical book is named after, “Can you catch Leviathan with a hook or put a noose around its jaw?”This is in reference to one of the most fearsome creatures on this planet – the crocodile. Such is the mighty power of this creature that man dares not try to catch it for sport or for food.
Few people live to tell a tale about an encounter with this monster of the river. Not so for 11-year-old Tapiwa Kachere of Katiyo 1 Village under Chief Nyajina in Uzumba, and his father Mr Tafadzwa Kachere.
The Herald reported last month how these two proved that blood is thicker than water when the father bravely leapt into Nyaitengwa River to grapple – bare handed – with the leviathan after it grabbed his son’s leg.
That attack and heroic rescue was on December 18. Mr Kachere suffered some injuries to his arm but has since been discharged from hospital. Young Tapiwa, though, is still admitted after his mauled leg had to be amputed.
So how does he deal with the trauma of a crocodile attack? Tapiwa is spending his time drawing pictures of the reptile that attacked him and his jarred recollections of how the great battle panned out.
One of the drawings shows Mr Kachere sitting on the back of the reptile, struggling to free himself after having already rescued his son. The drawing is carthatic as it helps Tapiwa come to grips with the near-death experience. It keeps the memory alive, but more importantly acts as a reminder of how lucky he is both to be alive and to have a father who values his son more than his own life.
Tapiwa, still in pain, could not talk much yesterday but was able to recount some of that day’s events as he lay in his bed at Chitungwiza Hospital.
“We were coming from the garden with my father and he was walking in front while I trailed behind. My father crossed the river and when I got there, the crocodile splashed some water into my eyes and I fell into the water.
“I cried for help and my father came running. I had already been attacked and the crocodile held onto my leg. My father finally jumped into the water and he shouted that I should hold onto the reeds as he tried to force-open the jaws of the crocodile.
“I held on to the reeds and father started poking the reptile’s mouth with reeds while seated on its back until it released me,” he said.
After releasing the boy’s leg, the crocodile turned on the father and bit his left hand. The man struggled with the crocodile and the two emerged from the water with Mr Kachere riding on the reptile’s back.
“He poked the crocodile’s eyes until it released his hand,” narrated Tapiwa.
Well-wishers, inspired by this amazing story, have not been in short supply. Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Simbaneuta Mudarikwa has donated US$500 to buy an artificial limb for Tapiwa.
“I have donated US$500 towards the purchase of the boy’s artificial limb. Through Isaac and Susan Mudarikwa Scholarship, we will be sending the boy to a boarding school so that he will not walk long distances to school,” he said.
Chitungwiza Central Hospital chief executive Dr Obadiah Moyo said the hospital would write off the medical bills. He said Tapiwa would need to change the prosthetic limb time and again as he grew up.
Zimbabwe international soccer striker Edward Sadomba has also come in to help. Sadomba’s wife, Sherylnn, handed over a donation to Tapiwa’s grandmother Mrs Neria Katonha, at Chitungwiza Hospital this past week.
“We are donating US$1 200 towards the procurement of an artificial limb and another amount to cover school fees for the whole of this year for Tapiwa,” said Mrs Sadomba.
“We hope that when the Edward Sadomba Foundation is launched it will offer support to vulnerable children in the country.”
Online Reporter