Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic could only watch in horror as a crocodile snatched Coetzee, 35, from his kayak on Tuesday as the three men paddled on the Lukuga River in Congo. The IRC and another humanitarian organization working in the area Solidarites International dispatched teams to evacuate them. Both men are still in Congo meeting with local authorities, but are expected to return the United States soon. The body of Coetzee, an acclaimed outdoorsman who wrote a blog called "The Great White Explorer," has not been recovered.
The stretch of river where the trio was traveling is notoriously dangerous because of its whitewater, and numerous crocodiles and hippos. The three men had been on a kayaking expedition through Africa's Great Lakes region and the rivers that run through Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The expedition was sponsored by the outdoor clothing company Eddie Bauer, which issued a statement saying that the company is "saddened by the the tragic accident and express our deepest sympathies to Hendri's family and friends.
The men, all experienced kayakers, were also visiting development projects in the region and making a film about access to clean water. Stookesberry, from Mount Shasta, Calif. We will post an update from Ben and Chris as soon as we hear from them. Following the incident, Ben and Chris were able to paddle to safety and contact the International Rescue Committee IRC who dispatched a team to evacuate them to safety. The team is completing formalities with local authorities in Congo and expects to return home shortly.
The mission for the Africa kayak expedition was to run and document the unexplored whitewater of the region, while focusing on the people and clean water crisis in Central Africa.
Jesse and Darin returned to the U. We would like to thank the IRC and Solidarites International, who continue to provide assistance and support to the team. Search Search. Dec 8, A South African outdoors expert who was leading a kayaking expedition from the source of the White Nile into Congo was dragged from his boat by a crocodile as two Americans watched.
The guide is presumed dead. The International Rescue Committee helped evacuate the pair to a nearby town, said Ciaran Donnelly, the organisation's regional director in the Congo.
The body of year-old Hendrik Coetzee, who was living in Uganda , has not been recovered. The stretch of river where they were travelling is notoriously dangerous for its whitewater, and because of its high density of crocodiles and hippos.
Basically, stay close behind me and follow my lead.
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