Homo naledi fossil find team member drowns
The unfortunate accident happened just after New Year's Day.
A young woman from Gauteng, Irene Kruger tragically passed away when she was surprised by a flash flood on Wednesday, 2 January in the remote Wolkberg Wilderness area, Bertus de Bruyn, journalist of the Letaba Herald reported.
Kruger was swept away by the water which rose rapidly and her body was found on Thursday, 3 January, more than a kilometre away. Kruger was a member of the Rising Star expedition who stumbled onto the Homo naledi bones by accident in 2013 at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
Kruger’s body was recovered by a team comprising Gauteng MSAR, Off Road Rescue Units from Gauteng and Tzaneen as well as the police’s Search and Rescue Unit.
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“Raising the alarm in the remote and rugged terrain proved to be a significant challenge as there was no cellphone reception. One of the men in the party hiked for more than 10km and drove a fair distance before being able to make a call for assistance,” Louis Menge from the Limpopo Off Road Rescue Unit said.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends left dealing with this heart-wrenching tragedy. Our hearts go out to you and we pray that you may find some measure of solace in the many memories of her energy and enthusiasm to live life to the full. We urge hikers and members of the public to exercise extreme caution during thunderstorms when the water levels in rivers and streams can quickly rise to dangerous levels. Keep a safe distance up and away (preferably several metres) above the water level and avoid contact with fast-flowing water if at all possible,” Menge said.
The News reported about the fossil found in a cave known as Rising Star located in the Cradle. The species’ parts were found in a chamber roughly 90 metres from the entrance of the cave, and consist of the parts of fifteen individuals including infants, children and adults.
Kruger was part of the cavers team that had had to fit through an 18-centimetre wide hole and climb down a 12-metre vertical passage in very dangerous conditions to remove the fossils. The discovery was unveiled in 2015.
Kruger’s memorial service will take place at Safari Nursery’s Chapel this Saturday morning, 12 January at 11am. The nursery is situated on the corner of Rubida and Lynnwood Roads, Pretoria.
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