South African National Parks (SANParks) has urged the public to refrain from speculating on the tragic death that took place at Kruger National Park this past weekend.
This is to allow the family to mourn their loved one with dignity, and for the police to finalise their report.
The organisation announced yesterday that circumstances around the death of Shaik Adam Shabir Ammed, 59, from eMkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) are being investigated by the South African Police.
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In a statement, SANParks shared that “initial eyewitness accounts indicate that the family parked close to the Malelane reception area and the children ran past the bridge into the bush, whereupon an individual elephant from a nearby herd charged them. The deceased rushed to assist the children and that is when he was chased and trampled by one of the animals. He succumbed to his injuries on the scene.”
SANParks further shared that the animal responsible for the death could not be identified on the day of the incident as there were several of them in the vicinity. Additionally, the animals immediately moved away while people were trying to save the life of the deceased.
Management continues to offer heartfelt condolences to the Ammed family, wishing them strength in this tragic and challenging time.
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