[Video] Crocodile kills 90-year old tourist in Zimbabwe – Park official

A 90-year-old tourist was killed and another tourist left on life support when crocodiles attacked them as they paddled an expansive boat in Zimbabwe’s Matopos national park, a parks official said on Friday.

John bowman, 90, and Rosemary Mitchell, 65, were canoeing at Mpopoma Dam, a known crocodile hotspot, when their boat was attacked, Parks and wildlife Management Authority representative Tinashe Farawo told Reuters.

Bowman and Mitchell are both Zimbabwean.

“The crocodiles attacked the air-pumped boat they were using till it pierced. Their colleagues noticed that they were struggling and drove to seek help.

“When the park rangers arrived at the dam, bowman and Mitchell were still under attack from the crocodiles,” Farawo said.

Crocodile attacks are common in parts of rural Africa south of the equator.

They spike around this time of the year when hatchlings emerge and females leave their nests, which they have guarded without feeding for 3 months.

“The rangers had to shoot at the crocodiles to disperse them and rescue the two and take them to hospital where bowman died before arrival.

“Mitchell has life-threatening injuries and remains in intensive care unit in Bulawayo,” Farawo said.

Crocodiles usually grab their prey by a limb and spin them in a “death roll” that subdues the victim by drowning.

(Reuters/NAN)