Did you hear the one about the gemsbok that attacked walkers in a Free State game reserve at the weekend? No really, it’s not a joke, people were injured in the attack. Report on News24 website.
By Marietjie Gericke, Die Volksblad
Gemsbok stormed and injured several walkers taking part in a fun walk at a Free State game lodge at the weekend.
Two of the injured, Amanda Appelgryn and her daughter Janecke, 8, were admitted to Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic with several tissue injuries.
Esmé van Wijk also ended up in hospital after she and her two friends were attacked by a gemsbok while other walkers were watching.
Volksblad reported that about 455 walkers took part in the Klingelklokkie fun walk in aid of the newspaper’s Christmas fund, which was held for the 10th time on Saturday at a lodge near Bloemfontein.
Flew through the air
“When we came back, a gemsbok attacked us from the right. I wanted to protect Janecke but the buck hit me on the arm,” said Amanda Appelgryn.
She said that her husband and daughter “flew through the air”.
Appelgryn contacted ER24 paramedics, who were on duty outside the camp.
Janecke was tied to a plate, which supported her spinal cord, and was given oxygen in an ambulance. Her neck, jaw and head were scanned at the hospital but no fractures were found. – Volksblad
2 Comments
Would you kindly let me know why it attacked in this manner? Did it have young nearby, was it “cornered” agitated by all the running next to it?
Very unusual, isn’t it. A grazer attacking a human? Must have been unsettled by all the activity.