Africa wins again . . .

I was saddened - but not surprised - to read of the death of a South African canoeist in central Africa. The Daily Mail reports:

A kayaking trip of a lifetime ended in tragedy when the whitewater guide was dragged from his craft by a crocodile.

Hendrik Coetzee, 35, was leading an expedition from the source of the White Nile into Congo when he was attacked.

Two Americans watched on in horror as their guide was pulled into the water, his body has not been found and Coetzee is presumed dead.

Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic managed to paddle to safety after they had witnessed the Tuesday morning attack on the Lukuga River, one of the tributaries that feeds into the Congo River.

The area is notoriously dangerous for its whitewater and because of its high density of crocodiles and hippos.

South African-born Coetzee, who was living in Uganda, was leading the group of experienced kayakers as part of a mission to document unexplored whitewater and development projects in the region.

. . .

One of the Americans documented Coetzee’s instructions referring to him as Hendri.

He warned: ‘Stay off the banks because the crocs are having a bake and might fancy you for lunch. Basically, stay close behind me and follow my lead. Any questions?’

There's more at the link.

Judging by his warning to his American companions, Mr. Coetzee can't even be accused of the all-too-frequently-besetting African sin of 'familiarity breeding contempt'. It's too easy to grow casual about the dangers offered by African wildlife, and all too many well-informed, experienced Africans have died as a result. That doesn't appear to have been the case here . . . but Mr. Coetzee's still dead.

If you take chances with deadly predators, sooner or later the odds are going to catch up with you.

Peter