Monday, January 04, 2010

Mariska Buitendag, 27, a waitress, eaten by Olifants River croc

SHOOT: Being eaten to death by a predator must be one of the worst ways to die.
clipped from www.news24.com
Johannesburg - A group of friends' New Year celebration ended in tragedy when a crocodile grabbed and apparently devoured a young woman from Phalaborwa in Limpopo.
Friends said Mariska Buitendag, 27, a waitress, didn’t have time to scream or call for help. She didn’t even struggle.
All they saw was a ripple on the water where seconds before she had been swimming in the Olifants River.
Henning, who was standing on the bank, immediately jumped into the river to look for Buitendag.
In the course of the morning, Buitendag swam in the river twice, but the third time, as she swam on her back, the crocodile struck.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Malesela Makgapo said the group had evidently had a lot to drink.
“Swimming is strictly prohibited where they were swimming,” Makgapo said.
A long-time resident of Phalaborwa said locals know “you don’t even put a toe in the river, it’s teeming with crocodiles and hippos”.
 blog it

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

horrific? Hope it was quick. Must say she had a brave friend

ChuckTheDefiant said...

This is sad and it is not the first time it has happened either! In 2000 a 19 year old boy, called Pieter van Dyk was eaten by a croc in exactly the same place, no remains were found then either.....

Growing up in Phalaborwa, everyone has gone swimming there, but I suppose we were the lucky ones!!

Nick said...

Well they were a bit drunk,and she was only eaten on the third swim. Guess it was third time unluckly

Anonymous said...

this girl is my family my niece it is so sad we miss you so much hun! Lovies your nig forever! xxx