Update: Ranger shoots croc to retrieve golfer’s body

SKUKUZA – An enjoyable social gathering of friends, which included a weekly game of golf at the local golf club, turned into a tragedy when a golfer and much-loved Lowvelder was killed by a crocodile late on Wednesday night. The victim was still in the jaws of the reptile when it was shot two hours after it hunted and attacked him.

View more photos and read the breaking news version by Lowvelder here.
The 29-year-old Mr Jacques van der Sandt had been visiting his parents who reside in the staff village and had played a club challenge earlier that day. He was the son of Kruger National Park (KNP) staff members Mr Schalk and Ms Lorretha van der Sandt, who have been working in the park since 1992.

Read a message from Van der Sandt’s parents and friends here: Huldeblyke stroom in vir krok-slagoffer

Jacques was a professional diver and did repairs on oil rigs on contract.

He was a past pupil of Hoërskool Rob Ferreira.

According to WO Oubaas Coetzer, spokesman for Skukuza Police Station, Jacques and a friend repeatedly playfully jumped in and out of Lake Panic, which is part of the nine-hole (18-tee) golf course. The crocodile, which had been spotted earlier the day, grabbed him around the chest and dragged him underwater.

Coetzer explained that the clubhouse was situated at the first/10th hole, while the bridge from which Jacques was said to have entered the water was at the club’s signature hole, number nine, a par three of about 150 metres, which was played across Lake Panic.

Yesterday SANParks said in a press release that regional ranger Mr Don English received a call at about 22:00 informing him that a crocodile had surprised a group of people and snatched one of them after which it disappeared under the water.

Rangers were alerted and after searching the dam for over two hours, spotted the crocodile’s red eyes in the water and shot the 3,9-metre reptile that still had Jacques in its jaws.
When the bullet hit the crocodile, it let go of him and his body was retrieved.

“It was initially wounded, but shot again and killed after the body had been retrieved – the only reason for it to have been shot,” said Dr Freek Venter, KNP’s general manager: conservation management.
It is believed that this reptile was the only resident one in the area and it was the first such attack at the golf course. It is also the first attack of its kind in the KNP in 10 years.

“Crocodiles are generally very scared of humans. They won’t come onto the golf course to hunt humans.
They are opportunists and if the prey is within reach, they will go for it.” It is currently crocodiles’ hunting season.

“They don’t hunt in the winter, so as summer creeps up the crocodiles start hunting to binge after the winter hunger,” said Venter.
An autopsy was performed on the crocodile to reveal the contents of its stomach. According to SANParks media specialist Mr Isaac Phaahla, the stomach was empty.
Venter advises visitors to stay clear of rivers and dams in the park to avoid becoming a predator’s prey. “It was just one of those very sad accidents, where a promising life was cut short. Our condolences go out to Jacques’ family and friends.”
Both the SAPS and SANParks are investigating the incident.

• Well-known Afrikaans writer Christiaan Bakkes, who is especially known for his books about the adventures of his alter
ego, Stoffel, lost his arm in a crocodile
attack more than 20 years ago. He is also the brother of well-known Mbombela
resident and former Lowvelder news editor
Mr Marius Bakkes. Christiaan was working as a game ranger in the Kruger National Park when he went for a swim in a dam in the Klasserie area. Two crocodiles attacked him and after losing his left arm and being left-handed, he had to learn to write with his right. Present during the incident was well-known local Mr Brent Pirow. Christiaan will turn 50 next year and currently lives and works in Namibia.

Marius and Christiaan Bakkes and Steffi the dog.