Crocodile Attack Survivor Vows to Stay Thirsty Before Returning to Okavango River
“Whenever someone touches me, I get a fright, thinking it’s the crocodile attacking me.”
For Mbuyo Kathumbi, a 36-year-old mother of five from Popa village, this visceral fear is her new reality. She is the latest victim of a brutal crocodile attack in the Okavango River, an event that has left her with profound physical disabilities and enduring psychological trauma.
Speaking from the shade of a mango tree on a cloudy morning, Kathumbi told her story, balancing a child on her lap while navigating her visible injuries. She now says she would rather endure thirst than ever set foot in that river again.
A Routine Errand Turns into a Fight for Survival
The attack occurred on April 3rd, during what was a daily necessity for Kathumbi and her neighbors: fetching water. A chronic lack of water points in the Mukwe constituency forces villagers to rely on the dangerous river.
“The crocodile bit into my left leg, and as my friend was pulling it off me, it tore away a chunk of flesh,” Kathumbi recounted, describing the horror. “Then it went for my right leg, but fortunately its grip wasn’t as strong, and my friend managed to pull me free.”
She credits her survival entirely to her friend’s immense bravery. “If it weren’t for her, I would be dead. That crocodile was incredibly strong and aggressive,” she said.
Life After the Attack: Disability and Despair
The consequences of the attack have been devastating. Kathumbi, who once supported her five children through odd jobs, now finds herself disabled and dependent.
“I can no longer move around freely as I used to, sit for long periods, cook, or clean the house,” she explained. “Sometimes I can’t even bathe myself, and my children or my elderly mother have to help me.”
Even basic necessities have become a struggle. Without a toilet at home, she must ask neighbors for help, a task complicated by her inability to bend properly due to her injuries.
Living in Constant Pain
Kathumbi’s physical suffering is compounded by a lack of access to medical care. She has missed four follow-up appointments at Andara Hospital since her discharge, simply because she cannot afford the travel costs.
“I live in constant pain because transport issues prevent me from going to the clinic for painkillers or to change my wound dressings,” she said. “Even the painkillers they give me at the clinic aren’t helping anymore.”
New symptoms are causing further alarm. “I’m starting to feel numbness from my hip down in the injured leg. But I can’t get to a doctor to find out what’s wrong.”
A Glimmer of Hope and a Stark Warning
Kathumbi has applied for compensation from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, but six months after the attack, she is still waiting. “Hopefully, if I get that money, I’ll be able to go to the hospital to see a doctor, because my legs are getting weaker every day,” she said.
As a survivor, her warning to others is unequivocal. “I wouldn’t wish what happened to me on anyone. I still have nightmares,” she shared. “Even if you have no water, don’t go there.”
Official Response: Compensation Approved and a Pattern of Attacks
Elias Eino, the environment ministry’s officer in charge of Bwabwata West National Park, confirmed the ministry is aware of Kathumbi’s case. He stated that her compensation has been approved and that she will receive it in due course.
“Everything was approved, and it’s just a matter of time before she receives the compensation,” Eino said.
He also confirmed a troubling pattern of recent crocodile attacks in the region, citing incidents involving a 9-month-old, a 9-year-old, and an elderly man between September and November.
In response, the ministry has killed one crocodile. “We’ve sent everything we found for DNA testing. We suspect the two children were attacked by the same crocodile we killed, but we need to wait for the results to be certain,” Eino explained.
Source: The Namibian