October 22

The family of the 50-year-old Ballito woman who was attacked by a hippo on Wednesday evening dispute that they had encroached on a dangerous wildlife habitat.

According to Dirk Weber, the partner of the woman who was attacked, the woman, her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were only meters away from a braai area in the resort in which they were staying.

He also disputes that they had any intention of swimming in Lake St Lucia as was alleged in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park statement issued on Friday afternoon.

“The group were taking a stroll on a walkway about 5 meters from the braai area where we had enjoyed a braai the previous evening when a hippo suddenly charged out of the bushes located about two metres to their right,” said Weber.

Weber also stated that there had not been a calf with the hippo, as contained in the original paramedic press statement.

“As soon as they saw the signpost which warned of hippos, snakes and crocodiles they stopped and didn’t continue, this is when the attack happened. It happened at dusk too, they were not walking in darkness as previously stated,” he said.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park stood by their statement, adding that an employee had visited the site and seen the evidence personally.

The park did concede that the group may have not intended to swim, saying that the statement had been based on previous reports that said they had been swimming.

“The primary purpose of our press statement was to confirm that the attack had happened and to again warn people about the possible dangers of the park, which is why we have clear signage in place,” said the park.

The injured woman is stable, but still in ICU.

Her wrist was broken in the attack and she has deep lacerations and damage to one leg.

The resort was approached for comment but declined.

October 21

iSimangaliso Wetland Park disputes series of events in St Lucia hippo attack

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park today corrected the record on Wednesday’s St Lucia hippo attack, which left a 50-year-old Ballito woman with critical injuries.

Using information that was received from paramedics on scene, The North Coast Courier published a story on the attack yesterday afternoon.

Initially, it was believed that the woman, her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were swimming at a community pool when loadshedding struck, leaving them to walk back to their accommodation in darkness.

This has been disputed by iSimangaliso however, who said that the trio were instead encroaching on a dangerous wildlife habitat area which was clearly signposted as such.

They also said that loadshedding played no role in the attack.

“It is alleged that the three were attempting to go swim in Lake St Lucia when a hippo which was grassing in the bush attacked her and left her with severe injuries on her left leg and she is currently receiving medical attention at a private hospital in Durban.

“iSimangaliso has proper clear signage in the park warning visitors of possible dangers to ensure that such incidents are avoided,” said spokesperson Bheki Manzini in a statement.

The park expressed their sympathies and wished the woman well in her recovery.

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