An accident in the Kruger National Park, which eyewitnesses say was caused by a vehicle travelling at an estimated 100 kilometres per hour, almost claimed the life of a Durban tourist on Saturday.

However, thanks to the quick action taken by Hazyview resident, Mr George van Deventer who arrived on the scene moments after it happened, Ms Brenda Liversage (71) and her husband Peter, lived to tell the story of their horrific ordeal. Van Deventer, the former manager of Elephant Point on the border of the KNP, was travelling in the park with Ms Marlene Hurter, his fiancée, for old time’s sake as they were about to relocate to Plettenberg Bay.

About 30 kilometres from Skukuza, another visitor stopped him to ask if he had any medical experience as a serious accident had just occurred. “I always travel with a first-aid kit, so upon arrival I was immediately able to stabilise her,” he told Lowvelder. The Liversages, who are frequent visitors to the park, said they didn’t really know what happened, but recalled a massive impact to their car’s rear end.

The impact was so severe that it forced the vehicle into a sideways skid, causing it to overturn. Brenda sustained internal bleeding and six broken ribs and Peter was badly bruised. ER24 arrived on the scene and Brenda was rushed to Kiaat Hospital. She is in a stable condition. Van Deventer and Hurter paid the traumatised couple a visit on Sunday, and were told “we will never visit the park again”. “We were staying at Protea Hotel where we have a timeshare,” Peter said.

“We rented a vehicle and we were offered insurance, but the we declined it as we never thought that something like this would happen in the park, where the speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour.” The driver of the vehicle who apparently caused the accident, was apparently travelling with his seven-year-old son. Both were unscathed. He was arrested on the scene and was released on bail.  Mr William Mabasa, general manager of SANParks, said that they are aware of the accident and that case will be investigated. Hazyview Herald attempted to contact the driver who had allegedly caused the accident, but to no avail.

The publication was recently informed that the driver who allegedly caused the accident, is Mr Harry Engelbrecht, who reportedly works as an advocate in Pretoria. This is however yet to be confirmed.